Bay of Islands - Oke Bay

Oke Bay was our first anchorage on our first visit to the Bay of Islands.

We left Whangamumu Harbour with a brisk South Westerly blowing. The trip up to Cape Brett was very enjoyable but once around the Cape we struck a confused sea with a reasonable chop against a bit of a swell. Not the sort of conditions that Agnes particularly enjoys.

We decided to head for Oke Bay which looked to be sheltered in the conditions. We were not disappointed.

The bay quickly filled with vessels as the wind gathered strength and while we were getting some pretty good gusts, the day was clear and warm and the water with the white sand was just magnificent.

Oke Bay is accessible by road but it is not visible and I suspect only motorists who had particularly read up their tour guides or consulted a map would venture down to the beach. As a result, it had an isolated feel to it.

You can access the Cape Brett track from Oke Bay.

I did not have any great expectations of Oke Bay, one seasoned boatie we had met had never bothered with it. We were surprised with the beauty of the bay and thoroughly enjoyed it. It probably lead to us being a little disappointed with some of the more highly rated anchorages that we were to later visit.

Anchorage: Oke Bay - Bay of Islands
Position: 35:13:630e 174:16:00s
Date Visited: Feb 2007

Mimiwhangata

We were originally going to call back into Oakura on the return from the Bay of Islands. However, an easterly gale blew for several days and we decided on the first day that the winds were forecast to be light to head off down the coast.

When we left the shelter of Urapukupuka Island we found that the swell was all of the 4 metres predicted.

This was the first large swell we had encountered and while a little scary to start with we soon realised that Agnes was going to handle it, as long as the marine forecast was correct.

Heading down the coast we decided that given the swells and a forecast for the winds to get up again from the southeast we would give Whangaruru Harbour a miss. Mimiwhagata looked like a reasonable option given the wind direction. We had visited it by road but only the Ocean side of the park.

We were not the only boat sheltering in the Bay. We anchored just inside Turapata Point.

While the sea was flat, the ocean swells were so big that it was unavoidable that we got a bit of a residue swell rolling around the corner.

The wind remained above our agreed levels for three days so we got well acquainted with the many walking options around the park onshore.

It is a very pretty spot and we thoroughly enjoyed the stay and the exercise that we got. The beach at the head of the bay is deserted and extensive.

The anchorage was OK but we did get 30-40 knots of wind on the days we were there. The part of the bay we anchored in would not be suitable in winds from NW - SW

Anchorage: Mimiwhangata

Position: 35.25.801s 174.25.140e

Date Visited: Feb 2007

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