w h i t e w a t e r ⢠r i V e r ⢠s e a ⢠m u l t i s p o r t ... - Canoe & Kayak
w h i t e w a t e r ⢠r i V e r ⢠s e a ⢠m u l t i s p o r t ... - Canoe & Kayak
w h i t e w a t e r ⢠r i V e r ⢠s e a ⢠m u l t i s p o r t ... - Canoe & Kayak
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views at the summit out to the Mercury Islands<br />
and an awesome view south to Opito Bay. We<br />
stopped for a photo session at the lookout. Any<br />
apprehension regarding the weather was replaced<br />
with excitement to be on the water.<br />
We launched at Opito Bay for a short 4km paddle<br />
around Opito point to beautiful Red Beach, which<br />
in this weather is completely sheltered. Note: - A<br />
northerly or southerly wind tends to funnel thru<br />
this small channel on the point, but once around<br />
the corner you are sheltered again. On a trip to Red<br />
Bay last November we were treated to Bottlenose<br />
dolphins swimming up to us in waist deep water.<br />
It is pleasurable to be tucked in this bay looking<br />
out to the Great Mercury Island. The most southern<br />
is Red Mercury Island with Von Luckner cove,<br />
named after a German officer, who was famous for<br />
his escape from captivity in the First World War.<br />
The Great Mercury Islands glistened in the<br />
morning sunshine & happy memories returned<br />
from my paddle over last Xmas especially<br />
remembering the beauty of Peach Grove and our<br />
awe of kayaking past the highest white sandstone<br />
cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere..<br />
We dragged ourselves away from this beautiful<br />
bay and continued on around the point to<br />
Motukoranga Island. It has two caves on the<br />
eastern side. You can paddle through a gap in the<br />
middle of the island to pinnacle rock formations<br />
offering fantastic photo opportunities. We went on<br />
cutting across the opening to Matapaua Bay with its<br />
numerous holiday homes and vehicle access .<br />
The next stop was Sandy Bay. It has a pleasant<br />
grassy patch complete with Nikau palms in the<br />
southern corner, perfect for a coffee and half a<br />
sandwich while enjoying the views across the<br />
Mercury Bay to Whitianga and Hahei. We saved<br />
the other half of the sandwich to eat at our next<br />
stop. Got to pace ourselves!<br />
Warning, the trip down to our campsite at Waitaia<br />
Bay which is only 13kms one-way from Opito took<br />
us over 4 hours! We stopped in all but one bay, all<br />
lovely. Horseshoe bay is set further into the hills<br />
with a substantial headland on the south side<br />
D.O.C signs clearly state “No camping in this bay” .<br />
But it was a great spot to finish the other half of our<br />
sandwiches & explore some more.<br />
We continued to Double Bay, which hides two<br />
small inlets divided by a high ridge. If you look<br />
carefully there is a substantial home perched on<br />
top. The second bay, which is the prettiest and gets<br />
more sun, is privately owned .<br />
We enjoyed a little exploring here, wondering<br />
why there was a wooden walkway and properconcreted<br />
steps up the cliff face to a lookout? On<br />
returning to the beach we saw a no entry sign<br />
and paddling back noticed the house on the hill.<br />
What a spot !<br />
Then it was just a short 2.5km to our campsite at<br />
Waitaia Bay. The bay is bordered by a recreation<br />
reserve with four wheel drive access & a 2hr return<br />
walking track through native bush, signposted on<br />
Time for a cuppa?<br />
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