The anchorage at Kawau island, a former mining area, is a large deep bay called Bon Accord harbour with many jetties. It is well known for its walks and we will all look forward to that, time for a good workout. The nearby floating jetty is a safe place for the dinghy and it is easy to step on land.
At anchor in Bon Accord bay
On our walks we met wallabies, a tiny kangaroo, and saw a full wallaby skeleton by the path. A live one stared at us for a while, only a couple of meters away, before bouncing extraordinarily high to clear the sheep wire fence. The paths were ideal for Michael, leading to the remnants of a copper smelting oven, Ladies Bay where the ladies bathed, Mansion House with a well tended period garden and peacocks,
Art on the road side
Peacock at the Mansion house
and what about these youngsters?
The highlight of the walk for us, Miners bay
Miners Bay is approached by a mossy Tolkinesque track going down hill, opening onto a meadow. From track to meadow is a hobbit sized path winding past some thistles and large ornate plants. We sat under a tree in the grass at peacefully watching the sea and the little beach. Black and white birds like small vultures sat on a big dead tree bleached by the sun. A sign facing the sea warns us not to light fires.
Whats next? On to Coromandel harbour to restock our supplies. Coromandel is on the other side of the Hauraki gulf where we anchored as close to the town as we dared with 1.5m under the boat at low tide.
Again beautifull scenery all around
But its in the middle of the harbour 4 km away from town! It's so shallow!
Getting into Coromandel town by dinghy is a bit of a puzzle too.
There is a large jetty which dries at low tide and there is a shallow buoyed channel to the river which turns into a dribbling stream at low tide. Not surprising the dinghy ride is long and a bit stressfull too with all of us clothed in life jackets.
The captain initially overshot the buoyed channel so had to go back a mile to find the entrance to the river. The ride through the channel and over the river was long but smooth. At the town bridge my brother Michael superbly negotiated a difficult high planked bank when getting out of the dingy.
One of the first buildings we came to was a grand Western style pub with a quirky telephone box
The town itself is very pleasant with plenty of coffee shops, a micro brewry or two, a shop selling old library books, and a small nice park with big trees.
For food we could choose from many attractive places, serving falafel, green lipped mussels, or tacos to name only a few options and we enjoyed a walk in the countryside up to the viewing point. We learnt a bit about Kauri gum trees and the local efforts to save them.
Coromandel harbour panorama from the viewing point
Just look at those two gentlemen at the viewing point
See our boat? It is that tiny dot in the left of the picture
Where next?
Woolshed bay is a sweet shallow little bay where there is room for several boats
VERY shallow at low tide...
The land belongs to a farmer who discourages walkers with fierce signs saying no dogs no fires no campers no trespassing. Although, I walked the beach with crunchy white shells underfoot and small prolific oysters grasping each other and the rocks. The trees are planted at precise intervals along the edge maybe sequoia or a type of evergreen with very regular branches this too is noticeable in the next bay.
We had a great present of green lipped mussels from John and Olivia. The mussels were fantastic! What a welcome to the area. So were John and Olivia and we hope to keep in touch.
and this was our Christmas dinner of the day
Breathtaking scenery around the Hauraki gulf, islands and peninsulars all green with trees and grassland. Hills dropping down to little bays where you can ancor. When the wind changes you just move to one on the other side.
We tried the bay next to Woolshed with some idea of finding mussels. mmm no luck. Just a beautiful opportunity to take the board for an afternoon potter while Stefan and Michael did some boat jobs.
