branching out
We're on our own for a couple of days (and nights).
While the main itinerary is all about sailing around the Bay of Islands, we're off to reach the most northerly point at Cape Reinga. Exciting Stuff
We head off to Whangarei, which, if you're looking at a map, might not seem all that sensible; it's just that we wanted to see it - and we were not disappointed. A lovely small city around a harbour with some expensive boats floating about in it.
The clock museum at Whangarei.. no time to visit
We eat here at Whangarei, before heading east, through the Waipoua Forest to the opposite coast - where I'm writing this in a beachside campsite at Opononi.
Looking across the estuary from above Omapere
Hope to reach the most northerly point tomorrow but not sure were we'll end up....
...contd
We start early, driving north, aiming to reach Cape Reinga early afternoon. We're lucky: the weather holds and we make good progress, using a small ferry before joining the SH1, which takes us, after a couple of interesting stops, to the Cape.
Ferry crossing heading north
The sat nav tells the story of the drive through the Raetea Forest.. It's also very steep..
We're here!
Cape Reinga is a very significant place for the Maori people, and we are respectful of their spiritual beliefs. The Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet here with violent turbulence visible from the lighthouse, the Maori denoting this as the meeting of the male and female oceans.
After a couple of hours walking to the beach from the cape summit and back we decide to camp overnight at the basic site provided by the Ministry of Conservation - right on the beach. It's pure magic but a slight problem: no signal and it's Mothers Day. We resolve to trundle up the washboard track to the Cape summit to make contact in the morning.
...............
Morning comes, we trundle up the 3km to the top and make contact with the world, Sue's phone downloading loads of messages... It's still Mothers Day in the UK.
We spend an hour or so helping out a German couple who have lost their car keys - car 3km at bottom - phone signal at top but only on my Vodafone sim. After trundling up and down the dreaded 3km track again it's all sorted and it's panic over, hugs all round... then we're off.
We head to Russell to join up with the rest of the crew but stop at Mangonui for some world famous fish, mussels and chips. Russell turns out to be a really nice little town, reached by another ferry. After hellos and chats we finish the day with a meal to celebrate a member's 70th. All good companiable fun.
Pictures of picturesque Russell, on the way to group meal.
Last stop tomorrow.
We're on our own for a couple of days (and nights).
While the main itinerary is all about sailing around the Bay of Islands, we're off to reach the most northerly point at Cape Reinga. Exciting Stuff
We head off to Whangarei, which, if you're looking at a map, might not seem all that sensible; it's just that we wanted to see it - and we were not disappointed. A lovely small city around a harbour with some expensive boats floating about in it.
The clock museum at Whangarei.. no time to visit
We eat here at Whangarei, before heading east, through the Waipoua Forest to the opposite coast - where I'm writing this in a beachside campsite at Opononi.
Looking across the estuary from above Omapere
Hope to reach the most northerly point tomorrow but not sure were we'll end up....
...contd
We start early, driving north, aiming to reach Cape Reinga early afternoon. We're lucky: the weather holds and we make good progress, using a small ferry before joining the SH1, which takes us, after a couple of interesting stops, to the Cape.
Ferry crossing heading north
The sat nav tells the story of the drive through the Raetea Forest.. It's also very steep..
We're here!
Cape Reinga is a very significant place for the Maori people, and we are respectful of their spiritual beliefs. The Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet here with violent turbulence visible from the lighthouse, the Maori denoting this as the meeting of the male and female oceans.
After a couple of hours walking to the beach from the cape summit and back we decide to camp overnight at the basic site provided by the Ministry of Conservation - right on the beach. It's pure magic but a slight problem: no signal and it's Mothers Day. We resolve to trundle up the washboard track to the Cape summit to make contact in the morning.
...............
Morning comes, we trundle up the 3km to the top and make contact with the world, Sue's phone downloading loads of messages... It's still Mothers Day in the UK.
We spend an hour or so helping out a German couple who have lost their car keys - car 3km at bottom - phone signal at top but only on my Vodafone sim. After trundling up and down the dreaded 3km track again it's all sorted and it's panic over, hugs all round... then we're off.
We head to Russell to join up with the rest of the crew but stop at Mangonui for some world famous fish, mussels and chips. Russell turns out to be a really nice little town, reached by another ferry. After hellos and chats we finish the day with a meal to celebrate a member's 70th. All good companiable fun.
Pictures of picturesque Russell, on the way to group meal.
Last stop tomorrow.
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