Whangaruru Harbour

We returned to Whangaruru Harbour while en route to Bay of Islands.

We left Gulf Harbour at 6am headed for Whangarei Harbour but the sea conditions were so good when we arrived off the Heads and the forecast for the next day not so good, that we decided to push on.

At 6pm we arrived at Whangaruru and anchored in Admirals Bay (Whakapakara Bay), the first Bay on the starboard side just past Black Rocks. The Doc ranger home is on the shore.

The bay is a little shallow at low tide but also reasonably deserted, an ideal anchorage for a Logan. It was also handy to pop across to Oakura Bay the next morning for a wander around the village and catch up with old friends.

Having spent quite a bit of time at Oakura as a land lubber, we knew that you would not want to anchor inside Rugged Point as there is always a bit of a swell rolling in. But it is a good place to anchor for the day for a look around this very pretty area.

A brisk northerly blew up as predicted the next day. While we had good shelter beyond rugged point we did not want to spend the night there. Having kayaked most of the harbour, I decided that Bland Bay (harbour side) probably offered the best shelter without going further up into the harbour. We anchored to the east of Motukauri Island, there were quite a few boats but plenty of room.

The front passed through overnight and bland bay offered another pleasant morning walk through the camp to the ocean beach.

If you have time, there is a reasonably strenuous stroll from the top of the road at Puriri Bay. Takes you up on a circular route via the top of the hill through to a blowholl on the open ocean and back via the Bay we anchored in the first night.

Anchorages:

Admirals Bay

Position: 35:22:218s 174:21:361e

Bland Bay

Position: 35:21:01s 174:20:90e

Dates visited: Jan 2007