Kotanui Island / Frenchmans Cap

Kotanui Island / Frenchmans Cap is a high rock stack island located off the southern coast of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf.

Geography

The island is located south of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, southeast of Matakatia Bay and southwest of Hobbs Bay / Gulf Harbour.

Etymology

The island's Māori language name, Kotanui, literally means 'big cockle shell'. The island is also known as Kotanui Rock.

History

New Zealand Anglican cleregyman John Kinder photographed Kotanui Island / Frenchmans Cap in 1868; the images have been described as being "among Kinder's most luminous photographs" by art curator Ron Brownson.