The former Air Force Base at Shelly Bay was once a Te Ati Awa village called Maru-Kai-Kuru. The village was situated at the north end of Shelly Bay and was connected to other settlements on the western side of the Peninsula. Settlement of this site dates back from the earlier migration (heke) from Taranaki when Maru-Kai-Kuru was populated by the Ngati Mutunga kin of Te Ati Awa.
In the 1890s a naval volunteer reserve unit was established at Shelly Bay to carry out mine laying operations. Today, you can catch the afternoon sun at Shelly Bay while enjoying barbequed fish from the Chocolate Fish Café, a picnic under the seaside trees, viewing contemporary art or accessing the Massey Memorial from one of the many bush trails.