WALKING ON GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

The sun came out!! So we did some walking starting with the first one when anchored in Tryphena Harbour Bay.  We walked up to Mt. Wangaparapara which just took over an hour.  The following day we headed around to Port Fitzroy bay, we had 30 knots blowing from the SW, just the jib up and off we set averaging 7 - 8 knots.  Through a narrow pass into Port Fitzroy which was dead calm and very sheltered, quite a few fish and muscle farms around.  We did a short two hour walk along Line W through the bush, just very beautiful.  Back to the yacht still blowing quite hard across the bay but where we were anchored we were very sheltered.  The next morning it was very warm and sunny.  We packed a picnic lunch, on with the walking boots and headed off on a 6 hour hike up from sea level to Mt. Hobson/Hirakimata.  Our first stop half way up was at one of the now disused Kauri Dams.  Built in the 1920s, logs, estimated to be seven million feet of timber were slid into the dams, once loaded the dams were tripped causing a full blast of water to sweep the Kauri logs down stream to the sea.  Quite a few steps, about 2,000 plus, nearer the top which was certainly a thigh burner, just had to keep thinking about getting fit for skiing.  Once at the top the views were well worth it and we sat and had our lunch on a perfect, hot and sunny day with views that stretched for miles.

We managed to sea a 'Kaka' a very rare grey parrott in a tree but by the time I got the camera focused it flew off.  We also had a visit from some Pateke/brown teal ducks, which managed to crap all over our dingy.  We have also seen Little Blue Penguins in the sea, very small and usually dive down as soon as the yacht goes anywhere near them so impossible to photograph.  Some of the other yachties have seen Orca Whales but we have yet to encounter them.

This morning we are all complaining about tight calf muscles especially when going down steps.  We have just motored around to another bay within the Fitzroy Bay called Port Fitzroy where there is a very small community and little shop so we could buy more bread.

See photos taken over the last two days below:-