Taranaki Winter Trip 2007

In July we did the round the mountain circuit of Taranaki. Apart from a bit of wind on the first day we had perfect glorious sunshine for the whole four days! The first day was to Holly Hut, then a mostly bush tramp – the upper level route was closed to the next hut. The next day was mostly alpine which was nice and rather than go down to Lake Dive Hut and then back-track we continued on and went down to the Dawson Falls visitor centre (which you have to go past anyway) and spent the night in the lodge there which we had all to ourselves. It was a long down!! Earlier in the day we had our crampons on as it was quite icy especially in the shadows of the cliffs. There were some lovely ice crystal formations. The last day was a relatively short day back to the North Egmont visitors centre. Glorious views.

Easter 2007

Sailed down the inside of Waiheke to Man O War Bay, Whisper, Finale, Blue Heron and Tara Dawn all there at various times. Had drinks on Whisper and Jim did a water-bomb raid on Finale. Spent a couple of days here and one night in a nice spot in the east of Onetangi Bay.

Late Summer Trip March 2007: Huruhuri Harbour

The good weather couldn’t last forever so Tori went for a last swim at Whaler Cove, feeding lots of fish in the water with muffins that hadn’t been a success. Then we sailed to Hurihuri Harbour in anticipation of a blow. Strong NE winds, dragged anchor and picked up a mooring as we went past. We had checked it out earlier but didn’t think there was enough water- guess there was! The next day it was still blowing but mostly sunny. We went for a long walk, racing each other up each hill. Tori’s sandals didn’t survive the day! Waited a couple more days for the wind to ease before motor-sailing to Waiheke. Quite bumpy through the over-falls at Collville Channel and quite a confused sea all the way to Hooks Bay. From Hooks Bay we went via Home Bay to Bayswater, tying up in a fresh NW with some help from friends on the dock, CP was first off…

Late Summer Trip March 2007: Peachgrove and Whaler Cove

Diving, crayfish, dinghy sailing around the anchorage. Moved around to Whaler cove for the second night, initially one other boat there but they left and we had the evening to ourselves. Beautiful clear water, watching the rays swimming around underneath us. Noisy shags in the pohutakawas. Went for a dinghy expedition out around Red Mercury and had a snorkel out there, heaps of crays in a cave and a nice wall with nudibranches etc. More walking and diving, a big school of kingfish on one dive, good sunsets.

Late Summer Trip March 2007: Great Mercury Bay

Motor-sailed across to Great Mercury Island, not much wind and on the nose most of the way. Nice sunset and moonrise, the Spirit tacking in the distance. Diving the next day and a walk ashore at Peachgrove up to the waterhole. Great weather, lovely day, crystal clear water. Had a dive the next day at Tamewhera point, good dive, rays, kingfish, sand eels and morays etc. Back at the anchorage and we look behind us and there is the Spirit, I don’t think we’ve managed a trip away without bumping into the Spirit! JR, Nigel and Neil come to say hello. Sailed round to Peachgrove in the evening which is the bay in the photo.

Late Summer Trip March 2007: Mahurangi

We started our March trip by joining the CANANZ trip to Mahurangi (first stop Isy Bay of course!). Saw a hammerhead shark as we were motoring to Mahurangi. Went up to Warkworth in the dinghy, towing the guys from Blue Heron in their dinghy, Jim manages (on purpose) to wrap them around a post.

Mahurangi Classic Boat Regatta

We have been saying we would take our boat up and watch the classic boat regatta for years, we almost made it one year arriving just as the last boats finished. (that was the sail where we had the full rig up in a good 40 knots just to see how the boat handled. Not a bad idea until when we replaced the rigging a couple of years later we found out that the rigger could snap the wires with his bare hands!!). We did the usual dinghy trip up the river to Warkworth and watched the Regatta.

Christmas 2006/2007: TiriTiri Matangi

Sailed to Tiritiri and anchored at Fishermans Bay as it was blowing straight into the wharf side. Took a pizza picnic and watched some little blue penguins come ashore. A couple weren’t keen to come any further with us about so we left them in peace and then stumbled across a couple more walking up the concrete path. On the walk back across the island we saw a kiwi in the undergrowth. One word of warning don’t anchor near a seagull rookery if you want to get a quiet night! The next day it was a motor sail home to Bayswater but not before Tori had inadvertently gone for a swim with lots of jellyfish (luckily not stinging ones). CP was first off the boat but quickly returned as it was too hot outside for her and it was ‘looking forward’ to work the next day!

Christmas 2006/2007: Back West and Moturekareka

Sailed, at least to begin with back round to the other side, of course once at the Needles it was a motor the rest of the way! Anchored in Port Abercrombie for the night after getting some scallops., a lovely evening with very few boats left in the bay (after quite a busy day). Motored through Fitzroy and as we passed the rubbish barge there was a pod of dolphins playing around us. We anchored in a lovely spot just outside of Man O War passage, surrounded with rocky islands and flowering Pohutukawa. Unfortunately it started to get a bit rolly in the evening so we ducked back a few bays and tucked in behind the mussel farm. Went for a sunset dive, sleeping snapper and leatherjackets and open anenomes- quite pretty. The next day we headed across towards Kawau, stopping for Tori to have a snorkel at Horn rock on the way past. A barren rocky landscape but nice fish life. The wind picked up as we motored off and had a good sail for the last part of the day anchoring off Moturekareka. Snorkeled on the wreck of the Rewa and had a couple of not very successful dives – only managed to get 10 scallops (not quite enough for Tori and the cat).

Christmas 2006/2007: Out the back: Rangiwhakea

Sailed the next day in a good breeze to Rangiwhakaea and walked up to some waterfalls and there was a fresh water wash for Tori (Jim doesn’t do cold water!).

Christmas 2006/2007: Out the back: Whangapoua

Sailed down to Whangapoua on the 30th . We anchored at the N end and took the kayaks across in the dinghy to the surf spot at the mouth of the river. Had great fun surfing on the bar and we were back the next day. The surf wasn’t as good but that didn’t stop Tori from doing two pitchpoles.

Christmas 2006/2007: Out the back, Harataonga

We motored around to as far as the Needles, catching a Kingfish on the way, sailed the rest of the way to Harataonga. Good vis for the Hauraki Gulf as we can see the bottom at 8m. Did some diving at Arid Island, good vis. Saw a flying fish ‘flying’ alongside the dinghy, walked some of the coastal walkway. Quite a few boats have made the most of the weather and come round to this side and the anchorage is busy.

Christmas 2006/2007:Barrier –Broken Islands and Fitzroy

Left Bayswater after work on Friday and headed down to Owhanake for the night (a nice change from Isy Bay!). Had a sort of barbeque on board. The next day we headed off for Barrier, supposed to be SW but we had the wind on the nose all the way across! Anchored in a very pleasant spot in the Broken Islands. Went out the next day to get some crays from our usual spot (where? now that would be telling). Got a bit rolly later on in the anchorage so we headed round into Fitzroy, as we were motoring in we spotted some familiar looking boats and headed across to Kiwiriki to join Gosi and Whisper who were a few drinks ahead of us on board Whisper. The next day was Christmas. We took the dinghy and got some crays and scallops for Christmas dinner which was spent on Whisper drinking too much and enjoying ourselves. Spent a lazy day before making the most of the settled weather to go around to the other side of Barrier.

CP is not a fan of sailing but will deign to eat the catch!