Whangamumu Harbour

I had read a bit about Whangamumu Harbour, difficult to spot from offshore, very pretty, shelltered, etc. All these were true but probably more so that I had anticipated.

I was using the chart plotter as we came up the coast from Bland Bay, and according to that, we were very close to the inner harbor but I could still not pick out the entrance.

As you cruise further in, the outer harbour "doglegs" to the port side and there in front is the anchorage, almost completely circled by reasonably steep hills with a pleasant sandy beach at the head of the bay.

There is no road access or dwellings, you either get there by boat or divert off the DOC track to Cape Brett.

I can assure you that on a hot day the climb out of the bay to that track is a moisture sapping one but well worth the effort. The views both up and down are spectacular.

If you keep walking along the main track you will also get views down into Rawhiti in the outer By of Islands. If you are enrgetic enough you can walk down to Rawhiti. However, visiting by boat is not far off if you are heading up to the Bay. If you anchor at Oki Bay (recommended) you are 2 minutes walk from the village.

There is an old whaling station on the north eastern side of Whangamumu bay that is worth a visit.

This is one of the more enjoyable anchorages that I have visited, It's beauty and isolation are hard to beat.

Anchorage: Whangamumu Harbour

Position: 35.15.063S 174.17.729E

Date Visited: February 07