Cruising NZ
Salamander
Thu 17 Mar 2011 09:49
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36.09.880s 75.21.570e
Gulf Harbour is perfect from cruising the Hauraki Gulf,
with hundreds of great anchorages. We spent a couple of days at Great Barrier
island; a laid back hippy place with great pub food. Briefly explored inland,
finding a small waterfall with a refreshing plunge pool.
We returned to Gulf Harbour in time for a Tsunami
warning as a result of the Japan earthquake. "Marine threat: strong and unusual
currents. Stay away from beaches and off the water. Arrival of first wave
expected to coincide with next low tide. Do not go sightseeing. Warn friends and
neighbours."
Our first tsunami warning and we didn't know what to
expect. The wave height was predicted to be 1m, but it would be travelling at
500mph. The security guards said to leave if we can, otherwise they would sound
the siren if necessary. Anyway it turned out to be 15cm, so we were fine, but
there were strong currents and white water in the harbour entrance reminiscent
of Rangiroa pass. We had planned to go cruising with Cherie and Eric on their
new boat Tohora. Cherie sensibly cancelled when she heard the warning, but after
the first wave hit everything was back on. We popped out of the harbour a bit
faster and you could feel it through the helm like little power
surges.
The first anchorage off Moturekareka had a great wreck
to snorkel and rock pools to explore before returning to Tohora for nibbles and
drinks with Cherie and Eric and their friends Tracey, Shane and
Grace.
The next day we moved to Kawau, off the old copper mine
and Tohara's able crew taught us some fishing techniques. Thankfully their boat
stood up to some thwacking from our miscasting. Dinner at their place, breakfast
at ours. So relaxing in the sunshine, with blue penguins, cormorants gently
swooping and gannets dive bombing, all to the rather strange sound of Australian
kookaburras.
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