As the tide goes out, this sunken ship becomes visible at the opening of Okoromai Bay into the Hauraki Gulf. Mussels, oysters, and other sea life have made this sunken ship their home. Most days only a small fraction of the bow and the boiler can be seen above the water line. However, twice each year, at the king tides, much more is visible.
The easiest way to get to the wreckage is via kayak from Te Haruhi Bay, the main beach in Shakespear Park. At low tide, when much of the foreshore is mud flats, one can walk across Okoromai Bay. On a nice weekend day, you may pass by hundreds of people collecting cockles (a type of clam). Once on the east side, follow the water’s edge until you reach the point. Here you will get great close up views of the sunken ship.
It’s never boring living here.
Sunken Ship in Okoromai Bay At King Low Tide
More Information on the Sunken Ship on Okoromai Bay:
- Okoromai Bay is home to one of three main beaches of Shakespear Park, an Auckland regional park located at the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the Hauraki Gulf.
- It’s one of many free places to visit in the region.
- History buffs can read the entire story, recalled in one of our local newspapers: The hulks of Shakespear Regional Park (Note: New Zealand’s Shakespear family name is spelt correctly.)
- The ship is one of three that were strategically sunk here by the Shakespear family many years ago to create a shelter and protect their family boat from the weather inside Okoromai Bay on the peninsula.
- The other two are deeper, not visible, and not that near.
- There are other sunken ships in the Auckland Region. The Rewa was sunk off the island of Motorekareka in the Hauraki Gulf.
- The ship is visible above the waterline for a few hours around the low tide. The photo above is from a king low tide, the largest tides of the year.
Have you been this close to a sunken ship before?
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Stefanie
May 8, 2016 at 2:36 pmI’ve never seen a sunken ship before – how much of the ship can you see when there is a regular low tide?
Rhonda Albom
May 9, 2016 at 9:08 amAbout 2/3 of what you see here. And right from my living room too. Come for a visit and I will show you.
Grey World Nomads
April 30, 2016 at 4:48 amFor what an old ship can be used finally is quite amazing … I’ve seen the abundant marine wildlife around ship wrecks during diving. It’s amazing what such a skeleton can create. #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
April 30, 2016 at 5:44 pmWe don’t get many divers around it, as it is quite shallow.
Pam Margolis
April 27, 2016 at 12:44 pmWOW!!!!!!!!!!
Rhonda Albom
April 27, 2016 at 4:20 pm🙂
erica
April 27, 2016 at 4:15 amThis is beyond lovely! I’ve always had a fascination with shipwrecks.
Happy A2Z!
Erica
http://www.ericageraldmason.com
Rhonda Albom
April 27, 2016 at 4:22 pmThanks Erica
northierthanthou
April 24, 2016 at 7:31 pmThat’s totally cool. …I think though, I am already obsessed with waiting for that one piece to fall off. It’s gonna happen soon, I know it!
Rhonda Albom
April 27, 2016 at 4:27 pmI don’t think so, it’s been there quite a while.
Brooke
April 24, 2016 at 6:28 amHow incredible to see a sunken ship sticking out like that! I’ve never seen anything so fascinating. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
April 27, 2016 at 4:28 pmI can see this from my living room everyday at low tide.
JazzFeathers
April 23, 2016 at 11:47 pmWow! That’s a very unusual photo. Love it 🙂
I find tides to be fascinating. You never know what they may reveal.
Rhonda Albom
April 27, 2016 at 4:30 pmTrue, at high tide we kayak, at low tide we can collect clams.
Corinne
April 23, 2016 at 6:05 pmI love a sunken ship and snorkeling around it sounds like a blast!
Yolanda Renee
April 23, 2016 at 5:21 pmSo cool that you could photograph it. Amazing that these type of wrecks are beneficial to the ecosystem.
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:40 pmIt’s actually quite close to my house, we walked from home to do this photo.
Lyndall
April 23, 2016 at 2:22 pmWow – how fascinating to be able to snorkel or dive this wreck!
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:38 pmIt’s very close to my house, but I have never snorkelled it.
Paula McInerney
April 23, 2016 at 10:24 amGreat photo, and I bet a popular place to dive.
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:37 pmNot really a dive spot, but there are snorkelers. If you come and visit, you can kayak there from our house.
Claire
April 23, 2016 at 10:10 amOh wow. ..
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:33 pmThanks Claire.
J E Oneil
April 23, 2016 at 8:13 amHow cool that it’s visible, even for such a brief time!
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:33 pmParts of it are visible at every low tide – so everyday.
Lexa Cain
April 23, 2016 at 5:54 amI can’t imagine having my last name really be Shakespeare! I think people wouldn’t believe me. lol Very cool about the ship being visible so infrequently. Thanks for the pic!
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:33 pmThey spell is Shakespear – making it more believable, but probably always spelled incorreclty.
eileen g
April 23, 2016 at 3:28 ami always think sunken ships are very alluring and I’m not sure why. They mystery? The potential tales of adventure and drama and peril? All of the above? we tried to see some wrecks in North Carolina last summer but the tide was never low enough. this is a great shot.
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:32 pmToo bad this one was sunk on purpose, so probably missing most of those stories.
Comedy Plus
April 23, 2016 at 3:00 amHow cool. Yes I’ve seen more than one sunken ship in my lifetime.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:31 pmAs a sailor, I am sure you have.
L. Diane Wolfe
April 23, 2016 at 12:03 amThat would be neat to dive around and explore.
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:28 pmMaybe one day you will come for a visit 🙂
Ramya Joyce Samantha DRozario
April 22, 2016 at 10:00 pmBeautiful image. Sadly, I’ve never seen a sunken ship up, close and personal.
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:27 pmMost of them are below the surface and never seen.
Kathy Marris
April 22, 2016 at 7:47 pmGorgeous photo. Yes I have snorkelled amongst a shipwreck at Tangalooma , Moreton Island. It was a bit of an eerie experience!
Rhonda Albom
April 23, 2016 at 5:26 pmWe frequently see people snorkelling at this wreck.