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Man O' War Bay
Man O' War Bay is located on the eastern end of Waiheke and is one of the few eastern end beaches accessible to the public by road. From here a walking track leads up to the historic site at Stony Batter.
History
Captain Cook named Man O’ War Bay after dropping anchor there on his 1769 voyage. He observed that the kauri trees growing there would make ideal masts for the Man O’ War sail powered wooden battleships which formed the backbone of British naval supremacy for more than two centuries. Timber from Man O’ War Bay is rumoured to have been used as masts for Nelson’s triumphant fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Thomas Maxwell built a timber and boat building station at the bay in 1836.