Whangaroa Harbour

The Cavalli Islands looking back towards the Bay.


Paul and I arrived in Whangaroa on Tuesday 23rd after spending to nights at the Cavalli Islands. We sailed out of Opunga Bay in the Bay Of Islands, on Saturday 2oth we had a lovely sail to the Cavalli Islands. We anchored in Papatara Bay and spent two rolly nights there. The Cavalli Islands are really lovely islands if you are into diving, fishing or shell collecting. We went for an explore over the island, but decided to get out on Tuesday morning as the swell was building to 2 metres and it seemed to be coming right into the bay.





We had a rumpty old sail to Whangaroa Harbour, but snagged a lovely Tuna on the way. Paul was going to take me out for dinner for my birthday, but we flagged that idea and feasted on freshly caught Tuna. We both really like Whangaroa Harbour, it has amazing scenery, lovely anchorages, fresh water, washing facilities at the Gamefish Club, and a restaurant and cafe.





We went for an explore up the Canyon yesterday, and found a waterfall at the head of Rere Bay. We did not get a chance to explore the waterfall as the tide was wrong, so we will have to go back oneday. Today we are availing ourselves of the facilities at the township of Whangaroa (washing, showers later, water and dinner) the anchorage is a bit rolly but it is worth it.





We are thinking that it is time for us to start heading back toward home. Paul may have to start back at work earlier than expected, but we still have a few more weeks left to us.

Xaviers visit and beyond.

We did not make it to Roberton Island until Monday the 8th of February, but we had a lovely day with a picnic lunch on the beach, snorkelling and people watching. In all about 6 charter boats came in with passengers and disgorged them onto the island. The Bay of Islands is definitely the tourist spot to be, especially it seems for the young. Xavier stayed with us until Friday then headed off to Russell for a night, then back to Whangarei on Saturday. Paul and I restocked in Paihia, then headed off to Whale Bay on the Purerua Peninsular for a few days. We did a bit of snorkelling and discovered some really cool caves.

On Monday the 15th we decided to head to the Cavalli Islands, the wind was going to be on the nose but had been predicted to be light.......ha ha bloody haha. The wind piped up to 2o knots on the nose, with a 1.5 metre swell on the nose. After spending most of the day bashing into it we turned around and headed back to the Bay of Islands. On the up side we caught a lovely Tuna for tea. We anchored up near Pipi Bay on Moturoa Island, and spent two nights listening to the generator running inshore at the "holiday home" for the rich and famous. Yesterday we walked around the island (this was something we did about 6 or 7 years ago it was a breeze back then) boy was it hot, we decided that we have definitely aged since last time.

Today we have sailed over to Opunga Bay to get out of a 3 metre north easterly swell that is predicted (this is from a cyclone up in the Pacific Islands). We are holding off going north for the moment until we get a problem with our Propellor sorted. So in the Bay we will stay for the moment.

On the boat with Xav

Paul and I picked Xavier up from Russell on Wednesday, He arrived in Paihia on the bus and ferried over to Russell. We stayed the night in Uruti Bay and then on Thursday morning made a dash for the outer bay. The wind had piped up even by 8.30am so going around Tapeka Point with a 1.5 metre swell and 20knots was pretty cool.
We made it to Opunga Bay by 10am and had a late breakfast, we have since spent the time waiting for the wind to die down a bit. Tomorrow we are off to Roberton Island snorkelling, hopefully it will be nice weather. Not much luck on the fishing front, perhaps I am not holding my mouth right.

The photo is a sunset in Opunga Bay, the yacht is the Te Tainui. They happened to be anchored next to us so got in the photo.