We left Kawau island when the wind eventually eased on Friday. As we were raising the anchor we had a good view of an 8 foot Hammerhead shark as it swam past the boat, the first we have seen. Apparently there are very few reports of attacks from these! The wind was forecast to go round to the North but this didn’t happen until we were well on our way to Gulf Harbour where we had booked a berth for the weekend to do some maintenance, receive visitors and restock with food. Also of course to shelter from the next spell of bad weather. Sunday there was an absolute tropical downpour most of the morning. We met up with Gloria and Paul from Skallywag, Sue and Bruce who are friends of Sarah’s cousin’s Ian and Di and Blair a friend of a friend of an ex-colleague of Phils. So that was coffee with Gloria and Paul , Lunch with Bruce and Sue and tea and cakes with Blair.

On Monday we were ready to move on, the wind had eased well down and after managing to fill with Diesel we moved out 5 miles to Tiritiri Matangi Island. This is a wildlife sanctuary and is home to a number of endangered birds. On a short walk ashore we were surrounded by birdsong and saw a number of species quite close up including amongst others Takahe, Pukeko, Kakariki, Whitehead, North Island Saddleback, North Island Robin and possibly swimming close to the boat a Korora (little blue penquin). The dawn chorus is supposed to be amazing but as Tuesday dawned grey and miserable we only heard it from a distance sitting out at anchor in the bay, had it been dry we might have gone ashore again.

Rangitoto from Tiritiri Matangi

Takahe

Visitor centre and lighthouse. The lighthouse was shipped out from England in pieces.

North Island Robin

Tieke, North Island Saddleback

Moving on again we are now anchored off Waiheke Island, close to Auckland at the southern end of the Hauraki gulf the island has a number of vineyards, good beaches, arts and crafts and good food, considered to be the jewel in Hauraki Gulfs crown.