from 1962 to 1989, mechanics bay was home to first tourist air travel, then mount cook airline then sea bee air operating a fleet of grumman goose, grumman widgeon and grumman turbo goose amphibian aircraft for regular scheduled passenger and freight services to the islands of the hauraki gulf (particularly great barrier and waiheke islands) and operated charter flights to other areas such as the bay of islands, manukau & kaipara harbours and elsewhere around the country and to pacific islands. operating from what is now the marine rescue centre, they were located near compass dolphin (since destroyed in a fierce storm in the early 1990s).