Port Fitzroy to Whangarei

Hi everyone,

We spent six nights in Port Fitzroy at Great Barrier Island, staying at Wairahi, Smokehouse and Oneura Bays.  We briefly visited Port Fitzroy village to fill water jerries.  Port Fitzroy is a great place with at least half a dozen good anchorages.  It's similar to Whangaroa in providing all round protection.

Tracks in Port Fitzroy

On arrival we headed to Wairahi Bay.  This offered good protection in the coming strong S winds.  It is relatively shallow at 5m which suits us (and our manual windlass).  We stayed there for two nights as the winds blew through.

Wairahi Bay

Waitrahi Bay dawn

The next day we moved to Smokehouse Bay, anchoring in 8m.  This is a favourite spot for cruisers with a pizza oven, toilet and hot shower building.  We spent one evening ashore with sv Lady Annabelle.  The pizza oven works well.  We also went for a walk along one of the trails. 

Smokehouse Bay landing

View over Smokehouse Bay

Into the woods

Amongst the ferns

Smokehouse Bay facilities

Pizza Oven

One morning we spent an hour in the water again cleaning the hull.  Pretty good visibility.  That afternoon a 2-3m bronze whaler swam by.  Apparently it is a regular visitor.

Bronze Whaler Shark

Smokehouse Bay dawn

On Friday we motored over to Rarohara Bay  We had planned to spend the night there but the anchorage E of Quoin Island was full of moorings and deep.  And the anchorage off Port Fitzroy village didn't feel like good holding.  So we anchored only long enough to dink ashore and fill some water jerries.  We then motored out of Port Fitzroy through Governor's Cut to nearby Oneura Bay.

Leaving Rarohara Bay

Oneura Bay

On Saturday we motor-sailed to Urquharts Bay at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour.  It was a very pleasant day but there was very little wind.  We motored at 1500rpm to keep the noise down.

Track

Arrival

Urquharts Bay was quite crowded when we arrived.  We passed most of the boats to get to a spot in 5m where we anchored.  It's a nice anchorage spoilt only by occasional wash from vessels passing by in the main channel.

Departing Great Barrier Island

Passing the Pinnacles

Anchored in Urquharts Bay

We expect to move into Marsden Cove Marina later today.  We're looking forward to some rubbish disposal, shopping, laundry and socialising!

Our 'circuit' of the Hauraki Gulf from Whangarei was wonderful.  Lots of nice anchorages.  Some great wineries and breweries on Waiheke Island.  It's a shame we didn't make it to Auckland or Tauranga.  We reckon we saw many of the best spots.

Trust all's well where you are!