August 2013 - an early spring was in the air - beckoning us into the Far North.

With the company of Roy and Bernice Vannini we set off.

 Cape Reinga is as far North as one can go - this is the Portal from the carpark to the Lighthouse.

 From the Portal - looking West - the Tasman Sea.

 Looking East - the Pacific Ocean,

 and North to the Lighthouse.

 The Tasman rollers were crashing over the smooth but surging Pacific.

 Down a steep road to a DoC camp - 2nd gear down and 2nd gear to get back up but well worth the effort.

There was a Welcoming Committee lead by "Her on the Post" and no one else.

 The bay was in the lee of the Lighthouse headland.

A Pod of Dolphins spent a whole day relaxing in the sheltered waters.

DoC staff have built a boardwalk across the estuary to link up with the track to Spirits Bay.

 Since we have been on the road we have parked up at Gulf Harbour a few times. The carpark is at the entrance to the Marina . The ferry terminal and the boat ramp are adjacent. It is quite exposed to South Easterlies but you can park with your back to the wind and sit it out - it is worth while to experience a calm fine day - even in mid winter.

A selection of  -  Gulf  Harbour , comings and goings.

The Navy made a visit. Anchored out in the deeper water.

Their iflatable coming in at a good speed.

And below a pile driver and a little tug boat coming in at a slow , very controlled speed.

Good sized Kingfish cruise along the piers especially when the charter fishing boats come in.

One of the commercial fleet of cats that provide the passenger service to Auckland and Waiheke.

Use your Gold Card and have a great day out. Waiheke for lunch and home for dinner while enjoying our incredible harbour.

A newly launched Super Yacht coming in to be rigged.

Floating high in the water.

Just one day later , fully rigged and raring to go.

Another quality export for the Marine Industry - well done NZ.

This type of vessel is also called a Super Yacht but us ex yachties call them a Gin Palace.

Cataramans are the design of choice for providing a safe, stable , fast vessel for water business and pleasure use.

They build them big and they build them small - one design does not fit all !

Stingrays feeding on discards from the charter boats.

A true all weather work horse to help our Police do their work

The Police truely deserve this vessel.

A classic family yacht coming in from a brewing storm.

The Ferries run a busy timetable - apart from the commutor service they also do daily trips to and from Tiritiri Island - again use your Gold Card.

A classic style launch - could do 10knots on a good day with tide and wind helping.

August 2013 , Cape Reinga beckoned and we went safari style with Roy and Bernice( liveaboards like us ).

A cup of tea along the way.

With two rigs , both with towbehinds we needed a good sized area.

Spring was bursting out around us and there were lambs in the paddocks.

We were there - photo taken from the carpark -

 

Zoomed in, the Tasman Sea rollers are on the left and the Pacific Ocean is on the right.

The rollers were crashing in onto the Pacific which was a smooth seething mass of turbulent water.

From the carpark there is the entry to the pathway to the Lighthouse.

It's axis is East/West and the near constant wind blowing through creates magical sounds of flutes and pipes.

From the entrance , looking towards Cape Maria Van Diemen.

Looking right towards North Cape - note the swirls of current  that went North as far as we could see that day.

 

 

 

 

It was a short but steep trip down to the DoC camp.

The road had a good metal surface. We took the slow but sure approach , went down in 2nd gear and when we left we went up in 2nd gear - no problems.

 It is called The Far North for a reason

The bay faces North.

The motorhome parking area is a firm grassed area just 10metres from the beach.

We had a Welcoming Committee.

We are lucky people indeed, us Kiwi.

Here we are in August , dressed in beach shorts and singlet enjoying the Good Life.

One morning about 8.30 or so a pod of about 15 dolphins came into the bay.

They were not feeding or frolicking but swam slowly up and down the beach just clear of the breakers.

They stayed in the bay until low tide , about 4.00pm.

We suspect they were either nursing a sick member of the pod or they were birthing new members.

Up the estuary there is a boardwalk.

It sweeps through the mangroves.

Very well done - it meanders along to a foot bridge that crosses the estuary and accesses the walkway to Spirits Bay.

From the bridge looking back down the estuary - brilliant  clear water.

One of the many birds  that live in the district.

At first we thought they were Sparrows, but they hop and these little fellows walk and run.

We studied Roy's Bird Book and it seems they are Pihoihoi - New Zealand Pipits - a type of Swallow.

Bye Bye Pipit Bye Bye.

Time to roll those wheels and experience more of the splendor of the Far North.