Half Moon Bay, Auckland

Half Moon Bay is an affluent coastal suburb located immediately south of Bucklands Beach in Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand.It is well known for the Half Moon Bay Marina, home to over 500 boats. It is located on the Tamaki Estuary, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.Half Moon Bay is the location of a long established ferry terminal for vehicle and passenger traffic to Waiheke Island and a regular passenger ferry service to Auckland's central business district.HistoryPrior to the construction of the marina complex in 1967 the muddy bay was known first as Hancock's Bay, after the Hancock family which farmed in the area, and then as Camp Bay due to the establishment of the King George V Health Camp. Beneath the sandy top layer was a deep layer of fine quality pottery clay that was collected for the Pakuranga College art department and stored under the art department building in 1967.The temporary edges of the land fill were created with the concrete debris from the old Panmure bridge which was demolished at the time the land fill was being created. Prior to the establishment of the marina the bay was very isolated with only 8 houses and the Half Moon Bay Health Camp on the southwest headland.