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new zealand ~ parua bay to kawau bay

Posted by on January 9, 2015

January 9 – 13, 2014

It was time to bid farewell to our friends in Parua Bay. My parents had less than a week left with us, so it was time to get moving. The plan was to day-hop our way to Auckland, exploring what we could along the way.

Since we were anchored in a very shallow area (to the point of sitting on the bottom at low tide!), we had to time our departure from Parua Bay on the high tide. Therefore, once the boat was floating with room to spare, we hoisted anchor and made our way to Urquharts Bay near the Whangarei Harbor opening. The following morning we began our southward trek. We only had a slight idea of how far we’d sail each day, and we didn’t really know where we’d end up for each night.

Our first stop after Urquharts Bay was about 32 miles south and around the point of Cape Rodney. We tucked up in Omaha Cove, home to many local fishing boats and the town of Leigh.

fishing boats in sleepy Omaha Cove

 

 

rocky shoreline in Omaha Cove

 

 

discussing headlands & navigation with Dad

 

 

one of many schools with a pool

 

an exploration walk with the family

 

 

New Zealand flora

an awesome method for getting your boat to the water!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop was Algies Bay near Kawau Island. Even though shore access was difficult in Algies Bay, we were on a sheep farm mission. We wanted to have the closest access to Sheep World in Warkworth, which was finally achieved by a special shuttle pick-up.

After Wil dropped us off with the dinghy, it was still a long, mucky walk.

 

Yep! A long, mucky walk from the boat!

 

 

learning how to sheer a sheep during the demonstration

 

 

feeding a lamb

 

hungry lambs!

 

 

No, it can't come on the boat!

 

 

sheep for the herding demonstration

 

alpaca

 

donkeys ~ pet me please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were making our way down North Island’s east coast by sailboat, our s/v Sueño buddies were driving down by car. Nathalie’s parents had also been visiting for the holidays, and they were working their way to Auckland for their return flight, as well. The Sueños made a small detour to meet us in Snells Beach where they came aboard for a day trip to Kawau Island. The plan was to tour the Mansion House and hopefully see some wallabies among the resident animals. Sadly, we learned that wallabies are pests in New Zealand, and also with a group our size running around, a sighting would not be likely.

 

lunch before we go

 

local ducks checking us out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Mansion House on Kawau Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mansion House ~ part of the reserve

walking the Mansion House Jetty

 

anchored in Two House Bay for the day

 

 

 

 

loving a big tree to climb

peacocks & pea hens were on the Mansion House grounds

 

a forest of ferns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of our group hiked from Two House Bay across the headland to South Cove to explore an old copper mine. We were going to return to the Mansion House by following part of the coastline, but a couple of aggressive Oystercatcher birds refused to let us pass. They literally dove from the air towards David and Max! Therefore, rather than risk being further attacked , or disturbing these nesting birds, we returned to Two House Bay by another trail.

stone work from long ago

 

 

Kawau copper mine & enginehouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what remains of the enginehouse

 

 

cast iron boiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of our day on Kawau Island, we said good-bye to the Sueños. We weren’t sure when we would see them next, but our fingers were crossed it would be before we all departed New Zealand. Little did we know, we’d see them again in just a few days!

good cruising buddies

 

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