A small, quiet island just past Motutapu, about 12 nautical miles from Westhaven. Sandy bays, no shops and very few people. Here's how to plan your visit on a Daily boat.
Updated October 2026 · By the Daily Boats team
About 12 nautical miles from Westhaven
About 35–40 minutes at 20 knots
Woody Bay, West Bay, Sandy Bay, Home Bay and Māori Garden Bay
Private moorings and ferry traffic at the wharf
No shop, a handful of residents and quiet country roads
The Noises, Motutapu and Islington Bay
Rākino is only about 1.5 square kilometres, north-east of Motutapu in the inner Hauraki Gulf. Around 20 people live there year-round, with weekenders in about 76 homes. There's no grid power, and most of the island is privately owned.
From Westhaven, head out past North Head and up the Rangitoto Channel. Then turn east along the north side of Rangitoto and Motutapu to Rākino. It is about 12 nautical miles to Woody Bay, so roughly 35–40 minutes at 20 knots. Going via the Motuihe Channel to Sandy Bay is about 13 nautical miles, or around 40 minutes. Allow longer in real conditions: at 20 knots, sea state matters more than wind direction for comfort.
The northern route crosses the Rangitoto and Motutapu High Protection Area. You can motor through, but you can't fish or take anything. Watch for ferries and shipping in the channel.
On the island's north-west side, Woody Bay is the classic Rākino anchorage. Cruising notes describe it as good in all wind directions except westerlies, with good holding in sand. It's open to westerly winds and can get north-easterly swell. A sandy beach and a road to the top of the island make it easy to get ashore.
Just south of Woody Bay, West Bay has rock pools and kingfisher nests. At low tide you can walk between the two.
At the southern end of the island. The public wharf is at the south end of Sandy Bay, where the passenger ferry from downtown Auckland berths. Home Bay has a barge ramp and the historic homes of Sir George Grey and the Sanford family. Space at the wharf is limited, so keep well clear when the ferry is due.
A smaller bay on the east coast, reached on foot by the short Ivan's Track.
Sandy, Woody and Home bays all have private moorings. Don't pick one up unless you have the owner's permission. Anchor clear of the moorings and allow for the tide. Keep to 5 knots within 200 metres of the shore.
About 2 nautical miles north-east of Rākino, the Noises are a group of small, privately owned islands. You may land only on the main island, Ōtata. The shore is rocky, there are no facilities, and anchoring is only possible in fine weather.
The Noises have been a High Protection Area since October 2025. No fishing or taking anything, and anchor with care. The boundary starts a short way north-east of Rākino, so check the DOC map before you drop a line.
DOC lists Islington Bay, between Rangitoto and Motutapu, and Home Bay on Motutapu as safe anchorages. Home Bay has toilets and a DOC campsite. Both make good fallbacks. Dogs are banned from Rangitoto and Motutapu, including the beaches.
There's no shop on Rākino, so come well provisioned. Woody's Pizzeria opens over summer and on weekends, but that's it. There's no camping either.
Most land is private, so keep to roads and tracks. The walks are short:
About 30 minutes on the road across the island.
A short, slightly overgrown path off the Woody Bay road down to Māori Garden Bay.
Along the shore at low tide.
Rākino has been pest-free since rats were eradicated in 2002. Auckland Council's dog rules apply: on a lead on roads, no dogs on DOC land, and summer daytime limits on beaches. It's simplest to leave pets at home.
Check, clean and close: check the boat and bags for rats, mice, ants and skinks, and keep food sealed. Report pests to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
No fishing in the two High Protection Areas, and scallops are closed across the Gulf. Check the Fisheries New Zealand rules before taking anything.
Check the MetService marine forecast for the Hauraki Gulf before you leave and again during the day. Log a trip report with Coastguard on the app, by calling *500 or on VHF. In an emergency, call Maritime Radio on VHF channel 16.
Plan your fuel for the round trip, including any side trips, and keep a reserve.
Morning: check the forecast, log your trip and head out.
Midday: anchor in Woody Bay or off Sandy Bay, swim, then walk across the island.
Afternoon: head home in daylight.
Saturday: cruise to Rākino, explore ashore and grab a pizza if Woody's is open.
Evening: recheck the forecast. If the wind doesn't suit Rākino, move to Islington Bay or Motutapu's Home Bay.
Sunday: in settled weather, visit the Noises, then head home.
This is a longer trip than a typical Daily day out. Talk to the Daily team before planning it.
Daily bookings are full days, so at under 40 minutes each way Rākino leaves plenty of time for swimming and a walk ashore.
Daily members boat on Buccaneer 635 HT hardtops kept in their own berths at Westhaven, Pine Harbour and Gulf Harbour. New members do a sea trial when they join, so you'll know the boat before your first day out.
See how Daily works and more destinations, including Waiheke Island, Motuihe Island and Tiritiri Matangi Island.
Planning note: distances and motoring times are approximate and assume an average of 20 knots. They vary with the boat, load, sea state and wind. Always check charts, the MetService marine forecast, tide times and local notices, including fishing rules and Biosecurity New Zealand's caulerpa rules, before you set out.
Photos (Wikimedia Commons): Rākino from above by Ingolfson, public domain; the Noises by Joseph Neureuter, CC BY-SA 4.0; Motutapu, Rākino and the Noises from Rangitoto by Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Daily members boat from Westhaven, Pine Harbour and Gulf Harbour on fully maintained Buccaneer 635 HTs, without the cost of owning one. Plans from $470 a month.