We have spent the a few days in Araawaroa Bay on Moturua Island recovering and doing a few repairs. I have put a temporary pully at the top of the mast to hoist the main sail because the pully for the main halyard has seized. The dinghy has been repatched, so it might stay inflated now. B has been working on recovering the cushions in the saloon.
Tuesday we went to Pahia to do the laundry and more shopping, planning to start heading south to Auckland. By midday we were done and went and anchored in Otaio bay on One of the biggest islands of Bay of islands. We were thinking of doing a big hike on the island on Wednesday afternoon. However the night had been a bit windy and uncomfortable and despite the light winds forecasted for the day it seems to increased already so after our walk on the beach (actually on the 3 little beaches that surrounding the bay) we decided to head back to Awaawaroa bay for more shelter. It had been a rainy afternoon anyway and hiking wouldn’t have been fun.
Wednesday it was an early morning start ( early for us in this cold weather is 10am !). We motored around Cape Brett with a flat sea and no wind. We saw a lot of little penguins and thousands of birds sitting on the water flying away as we were going through them. By 1pm we anchored in Whangamumu harbour for a sheltered afternoon and night.
Friday morning we went ashore to check out the old whaling station and then took a long walk to the top of the surrounding hills. Whangamumu is a stunning uninhibited bay surrounded by high bush covered hills well known for some good nice hiking tracks. In the afternoon we fished off the back of Imagine and caught a snapper for dinner.
This morning we set off south again, stopping at Whangaruru. It’s not as sheltered here in the South westerly wind, but we are out of the swell.
