Whangaroa Harbour

Hi everyone,

We've now been in Whangaroa Harbour for three weeks.  How time flies!  We're waiting for a good weather window to sail 'over the top' and south to South Island.  Sadly the weather is remaining spring-like with no sign of a summer pattern emerging.  But the harbour offers many nice anchorages plus a marina.  Adjacent to the marina is the Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club with great food and drink.

Sunset in Touwai Bay

Here are our tracks within the harbour so far...

Tracks

Initially, with SE winds, we anchored in Owhatanga Bay in the Eastern Arm.  5m over mud.  On arrival we dinked over to the water buoy on the N side of the bay to fill our water jerries.  The buoy is run by the Whangaroa Coastguard.  It is fed from a stream ashore.  Very handy.

In Owhatanga Bay

On 13th we motored over to the Western Arm and into Rere Bay.  We anchored in 5m over mud.  The next day we dinked ashore in Lane Cove and walked up to the Duke's Nose.  The 750m path ascends over 200m with two stages clambering up near vertical rock faces with steel rods attached to the rock.

In the Western Arm

Passing the Duke's Nose

Anchored in Rere Bay

Ascending

Zen Again from halfway up

Final climb

Zen Again and Rere Bay from the Duke's Nose

Sunrise in Rere Bay

We spent five nights in Rere Bay, including two with strong NE winds.  The bay is open to the NE-E and we had 0.5m seas and gusty winds.  We re-anchored a little further into the bay in 4m since the anchor chain was rattling over a rocky patch.  The holding was good in mud.

On the 18th we motored to Ratcliffe Bay, 0.5nm N of the marina, via the water buoy.  We were unsure of the water situation in the marina and the water buoy provides nice filtered stream water.  We anchored in 7m over mud, just outside the moorings.  The following day we moved into the marina for a three night stay.

Rewatering

In Whangaroa Marina

The marina has good showers and laundry.  Day one was laundry and shower day followed by dinner at the Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club.  Great food and beer.  Visitors need to each buy a temporary (2 week) membership for $5.  Draft beers are $7 for a pint so the membership fee is good value.  We watched part of the third Ashes test in Adelaide on their big screen.

Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club

On day 2 we taxied to Kerikeri to the 70th birthday party of a friend.  I worked with Ian in Perth and contracted for him in the US.  He recently returned to his home country and has a very nice property outside the town of Kerikeri.

On day 3 we walked up to St Paul's Rock which overlooks the marina.  Not as strenuous as Duke's Nose but wonderful views from the top.

Start of footpath to St Paul's Rock

Last stage assisted by chain

View W from St Paul's Rock

View N from St Paul's Rock

Atop St Paul's Rock

On the 22nd we motored the short distance W from the marina to Okura Bay.  We anchored in 6m over mud outside the moorings.  One day we dinked ashore to the wharf which has a dinghy dock.  There are public toilets nearby and nice walks around the two bays.

Okura Bay

Okura Bay wharf and dinghy dock

On Christmas Day we motored back to Rere Bay to join friends on SVs Lady Annabelle and Masterplan.  The Lady Annabelles are from Perth and we discovered we have several mutual friends.  The Masterplans are originally from Zimbabwe and now living in New Zealand.  Having spent several years in Zambia we also had plenty to talk about!

Heading back into Rere Bay

We spent a nice Christmas Day aboard Zen Again.  Our only outing was to deliver mince pies to our pals nearby.  It was a cloudy day but we had a great day.

Mince pie deliveries around the anchorage on Christmas Day

Christmas duck dinner

Flaming the Christmas Pud

On Boxing Day we all met up on sv Masterplan for coffee and Christmas treats.  Christmas cakes, mince pies and more.

Boxing Day get-together aboard sv Masterplan with sv Lady Annabelle

On the 27th everyone visited Zen Again for morning coffee and more treats.  That afternoon we all motored to Whangaroa, anchoring off the marina.  We all dinked ashore to the public dinghy dock for dinner at the WBGFC.  We watched the end of the fourth Ashes test.

Yesterday we motored N and into the Eastern Arm, anchoring in Touwai Bay.  This bay offered good protection from the approaching SE backing N winds overnight and for the next day or two.  We got together on Lady Annabelle for a sundowner.  The sunset was spectacular.

Zen Again in Touwai Bay

Spending so long here waiting for summer to arrive has given us a nice holiday.  We've caught up on a lot of low-priority boat jobs.  Nic has been working on our YouTube videos and I created a set of videos showing our tracks in GoogleEarth over nearly 15 years.

Trust all's well where you are!