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Cowes Bay
Cowes Bay is situated between Days and Arran Bays on the eastern end of Waiheke. This end of Waiheke was the first to be settled by European immigrants from the mid 1800s. Innes Parrez was the first owner of Cowes Bay. As a 13 year old boy from Portugal Parrez was rescued by Joseph Hodgson in the Hauraki Gulf; "Innez" as he gave his name told of the mistreatment aboard a ship from the captain and crew. He and another boy jumped ship but the other boy drowned. This was in the 1850`s( no official date ).
He owned the Bay from 1865 to 1906 and built the Hotel (about 1890) and also operated the Post Office there since 1886. The area became very popular and in the early 1900's became the site for the Auckland Anniversary regatta.
Paul Monan's book "Waiheke Island a History" has photo's of Cowes Bay with steamers tied end on end and against each other having carried the crowds from Auckland for a day of boat racing and family enjoyment.
Currently Cowes Bay is famous for being one of the most expensive properties available in New Zealand, valued currently around 30 million dollars.