Tahuna Torea nature reserve is a a gorgeous tide assisted paddle up the Tamaki estuary in Auckland:
Trip Briefing
Set off from St Helliers
Paddling past Glendowie
Portage from the river to the lagoon
First stop
Morning tea
Kayaks waiting for the tides to turn
Return trip past Half moon bay
Tahuna Torea nature reserve has some gorgeous birdlife:
We stopped for a walk along the reserve:
And couple of selfies
Ferry going past me at Halfmoon Bay
Debrief back at St Helliers
I did this with one of the locals that lives off this river, Russell Millar with Yakity Yak Club.
Tahuna Torea
Great easy paddle – especially if you like to take your time looking at the birdlife in the picturesque river lagoon – that nearly became a landfill for toxic waste a few decade ago,
A SOCIAL, FUN WEEKEND WITH PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PADDLE, SHARE IDEAS AND LEARN, ON AND OFF THE WATER
Based at a stunning location at Anakiwa with beautiful bush and directly on the foreshore of Queen Charlotte Sound. The Outward Bound meals are scrumptious.
Accommodation is in spacious bunkroooms.
The KASK Forum offers:
– grand opportunities to take part in practical and theoretical sea kayak training
– the sharing of ideas on sea kayak design, equipment and gadgets
– learn about the local area and journey out on exploratory paddles
– attend the KASK AGM with paddle trophy award presentations
– join the paddle out to Mistletoe Bay with an overnight camp-out on the Sunday night
– bring your photos for viewing in the prestigious KASK Photo Competition
Evening speakers include:
On Friday night, a series of short 15 minute slide shows are planned showcasing where Kiwi paddlers have been kayaking in the past 12 months
Also on Friday night, ‘the paddlers of the Sunday Island’ will be sharing their paddling adventure to the Kermadecs – the challenges, the drama and of course the paddling on the most northern territory of New Zealand!
On Saturday night, Paul Caffyn and Conrad Edwards will share photos of their seven big overseas expeditions.
Registration from 5 pm on Friday night.
On the water instruction:
Australian paddler David Winkworth, will return again to Anakiwa with brand new instruction sessions, along with John Kirk-Anderson who is co-ordinating the on-the-water instruction program.
Overnight campout at Mistletoe Bay
Paddling distance from Anakiwa to the campsite is a leisurely 8 kms (5 miles). Mistletoe Bay is a sheltered elongate bay at the head of the northerly trending Omahau Bay. We launch from Anakiwa after 1pm on the Sunday, which leaves plenty of time for chatting on the water, and we paddle back to Anakiwa by midmorning Monday.
Riverhead pub paddle is one of those magical kayak trips where you can just sit in your kayak and let the tide take you to the pub and back!
This is second in a series of tide assisted social paddles around Auckland for the laid back evening paddler who wants an easy paddle to a waterside pub / restaurent around Auckland.
Launch point: Whenuapai
Eight of us from Auckland Yakity Yak Club launched from Waimarie Rd boat ramp, Whenuapai.
Whenuapai launch point
High Resolution Video of the trip to Riverhead pub paddle
The video was shot with the just launched Canon EOS 70D and the newly released GoPro Hero 3+ without any post processing on colour / exposure / balance. It just goes down to show how advanced the new senors are at working at low light even in the hand of amateur.
The trip
We started off at 6:00PM with nine paddlers: Mikaela, Chris, Janet, Luke, Olga, Sandra & Christine, myself and Shaun.
Briefing finished – time to go
Shaun watching someone else sailing to pub
Slowing down for speed limit
Last two paddlers – who relied totally on tide get to the pub
Full HD Video – showing the highlights of the Bay of Islands kayak trip, including circumnavigation of Urupukapuka Island and day trip to Cape Brett Hole in the Rock …
Matiatia Bay, Waiheke Island kayak trip is an intermediate trip (because of the distance) but very enjoyable paddle; Hugging the coasts of the tiny Browns Island and Motuihe Island and crossing the open water to Waiheke Island for lunch and paddling back.
I did this with Yakity Yak in winter on a really calm and sunny day. This was a non stop paddle to Waiheke, a lunch stop and a non stop paddle back. Only stopping to look at some passing dolphins on the way.
And a dog that wont get out of the way
New weather station?
In the water – half way
The paddlers
Nigel, Rob, Alistair, Jim, Martin, Chris and Denis
Matauri Bay is under 4 hours drive North of Auckland, just past Kerikeri and not too far from the Bay of Islands. Known for the resting place for Rainbow Warrior, Matauri Bay and (Cavalli Islands) is perfect for rock gardening lovers who like to explore the area over multiple days from one of the two camp sites (one in the bay, and one in the main Cavalli Island).
Getting there and Setting Camp
View of the Bay and Cavalli – From top
View of the camp-site from the road
Setting up camp site
View from my sleeping bag
Video!!
Full HD Video – showing the highlights of the trip, including Rock gardening in the swell and couple of rescues …
Paddlers Setting off through the surf
I did this paddle with Auckland Yakity Yak Club. Here are some of the paddlers on the trip.
Larraine
Pete
Rescues
Russell being pounded by a breaking wave whilst out of the boat
Deep water rescue #2
Matt checking the water temperature
John towing Matt away from rocks
Matt demonstrates the High-centre-of-Gravity reentry while Russell holding on to the boat
Billy and Matt carry on after the rescue
Rock Gardening and paddling in Matauri Bay and Cavalli Island
Morning tea …
Panoramic shot
Lunch break …
Panoramic shot
Return paddle
kayaks after the paddle
Evening solo paddle
Evening at camp site
Matt’s catch from the kayak trip
Long exposure shot at night
Oops I been spotted
Morning at Matauri Bay
Dawn kayak fisherman
Bay at sunrise
Same bay – long exposure shot
Waves on rocks – Taken with Canon EOS @ f/20, 1.3 sec exposure
Tiritiri Matangi Island Paddle is a fantastic intermediate Auckland kayak trip, starting at Army Bay, Whangaparaoa Peninsula, past Shakespear Regional Park and circumnavigating the island with a lunch stop in the island. Despite the swell, we did the Kayak Trip and some rock gardening within 5 hours on a lovely day in May.
Army Bay, Whangaparaoa Peninsula – launch point
About 45 mins drive from central Auckland, Army Bay with a slightly surfy Beach, is an easy spot to launch from with good parking facilities (and a fresh water tap!) at the edge of the National Park.
Setting off: Army Bay
Paddlers on this trip
I did this kayak trip with Auckland Yakitiy Yak Club who I paddle with regularly.
Larraine, Trip leader
Mikaela
Dave
Ian
Sandy, Pauline, Tim
Video!!
Full HD Video – showing the highlights of the trip, including Rock gardening in the swell !!
The coastline along North East Bay and all the way down south to Fisherman Bay is pretty spectacular with caves and rocks. With swells over 1.5 m, it was a exhilarating dodging the rocks and boiling water. The above video pretty much sums up the excitement.
Circumnavigating the Island of Tiritiri Matangi
The island is a bird life sanctuary. It has some of NZ’s endangered species and you always spot the birdlife when you are paddling around the coast. It also has a ferry terminal and a lighthouse as well as strategically located gun placements from second world war.
Lunch stop at Tiritiri Matangi Island
With gorgeous sandy beach and the whole island for ourselves, we had a very relaxing lunch on the beach.
Lunch stop
Whole beach for ourselves!
The return journey to Army Bay, Whangaparaoa Peninsula
Crossing the channel with a tailwind behind us was easy – we were pretty lucky as the channel can get pretty choppy when there is wind against tide.
Paddling past Shakespear Regional Park
Dave
Tim
Got back in time before rush hour. A fantastic paddle – highly recommended!
