Category Archive

Time For Food Restock Time For Food Restock

Orokawa Bay to Paihai to Orokawa Bay After some days spent relaxing and just being, in this peaceful bay, a major food restock was required. Anchor raised, and we were off. Dolphins twirling was the highlight: not just once but twice. Against the backdrop of the stunning landscape, they were an awe – inspiring sight. […]

Orcas: An Unexpected Sighting and A Bucket List Item Ticked. Orcas: An Unexpected Sighting and A Bucket List Item Ticked.

Orokawa Bay, Bay of Islands: New Zealand   Out in the bay trawling the line for a meal of fish to feed the hungry hoards, out of the blue a massive disturbance in the water ahead caught my eye. Two black fins, three, then four gracefully pierced the surface as their bodies rounded, then disappeared […]

Orokawa Bay: A Bay of Contrasts! Orokawa Bay: A Bay of Contrasts!

New Zealand and its Bay of Islands continues to amaze. No swell, pristine, peaceful, idyllic. This bay is delightful. Awaking as dawn was breaking, on looking out the portal I discovered mist arising in the valley over the hill. Drifting westward, it wended it way out over the water, gradually engulfing the distant yachts resting […]

Orokawa Bay: Pristine Peaceful Beauty Orokawa Bay: Pristine Peaceful Beauty

Having returned to Paihia, a dinghy ride into the township to stock up on fresh food led us to the local Countdown: how shopping had changed in a few short days! A Covid reducing Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand meant  a guard stood at the shop entrance. A minimum of ten people were lined […]

Motuarohia Island: A Wildlife Sanctuary Motuarohia Island: A Wildlife Sanctuary

Paroa Bay to Motuarohia Island Time for food restock, a return visit to Russell was required. Directly across from Paroa Bay was our lunchtime destination, the wildlife sanctuary of Motuarohia Island. As always, the beauty and vibrant colours of the surrounding landscape first attracted the eye. Upon entering the small bay neighbouring Cook’s Cove, heavenly […]

A Walk & A Dinghy Ride in Oneroa & Paroa Bays A Walk & A Dinghy Ride in Oneroa & Paroa Bays

First off, a dinghy ride into shore. Homes were well hidden amongst the greens. A walk upon Oneroa Beach. People were making good use of their time during COVID lockdown. I love the patterns found in the sand. There was our beautiful girl! Could the Bay of Islands get any better?   Well…….   1.5nm […]

Oneroa Bay, New Zealand Oneroa Bay, New Zealand

A long sandy beach where holiday ‘shacks’ lined the shoreline, the perfect spot for a night’s stay. The silence was complete.   Interesting Read https://www.otago.ac.nz/geology/research/index.html

Napuna Bay, New Zealand Napuna Bay, New Zealand

The Corona Virus was taking hold in Auckland and the regions south of the city. Now at level four restrictions, a quick motor into Paihia for a restock. The last of our condiments purchased, it was time to find a more comfortable anchorage – the ferries and boat traffic make the Paihia mooring a little […]

Whale Bay, New Zealand Whale Bay, New Zealand

With perfect weather, there was time for a sojourn ashore. Dinghy readied, and we were off. A loop around Australis 1. It looked like we weren’t the only ones! The tide was coming in…… There was a bit of a climb ahead! Oh, the views were so worth the effort.  

Paihia to Whale Bay: New Zealand Paihia to Whale Bay: New Zealand

Covered in more than 150 islands, the Bay of islands was created when the rising sea flooded green river valleys, leaving in their place picturesque landscape and marvellous anchorages. This morning, a short motor took Australis 1 roughly 9km north of Paihia to the anchorage of Whale Bay.     Volcanic activity is evident in […]

Oke Bay, Cape Brett to Paihia: New Zealand Oke Bay, Cape Brett to Paihia: New Zealand

Awaking to grey skies and misty drizzle, with the Corona Virus taking its deadly hold on the world and practically all services closing down as New Zealand’s Level 4 shut down took place, the decision was made to up anchor and head into the shops to restock. By doing this, we could continue our exploration […]

Urquharts Bay, Whangarei to Oke Bay, Cape Brett: New Zealand Urquharts Bay, Whangarei to Oke Bay, Cape Brett: New Zealand

Despite having travelled Norway, remote volcanic islands and more, this New Zealand landscape is the likes of which there is no real comparison for.   Rugged, jagged outcrops atop the peaks towering high above created a time for amusement as we, like children, identified shapes within.   Rocky outcrops burst forth from the uneven seabed […]

Kawau Island to Urquharts Bay, Whangarei: New Zealand Kawau Island to Urquharts Bay, Whangarei: New Zealand

Moody, rugged, and awe inspiring from the water, the landscape altered at every turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpyRIUTI39Y     Dolphins played. Whilst we moved, taking that perfect shot as they burst forth from the water was practically impossible. On arriving at our destination of  Urquharts Bay, the picturesque landscape so suited to the saga of the hobbit […]

Karaka Bay, Kawau Island: New Zealand Karaka Bay, Kawau Island: New Zealand

A second visit to Mansion House in Kawau Bay was undertaken this morning. Anne was dying to experience dining on coffee and cake whilst sitting in a cafe once more. What a disappointment she received upon discovering the café closed on arrival. Peering long and hard through the window, we eventually sighted a sign notifying […]

Karaka Bay, Kawau Island: New Zealand Karaka Bay, Kawau Island: New Zealand

The most peaceful of nights behind us, a relaxed morning was spent in the cockpit enjoying ‘just being’. Lunch dined upon whilst a hungry duck or two hoped for a morsel, the dinghy was lowered and the four of us having boarded, off we motored around this idyllic waterway. First, though, was the maust take […]

Half Moon Bay to Kawau Island, New Zealand Half Moon Bay to Kawau Island, New Zealand

After spending a month and a half working on and preparing Saliander in Half moon Bay, the long-awaited day had at last arrived when an 1120 departure found our new beauty exiting the Half Moon Bay Marina. Sunny skies brought with them a light variable breeze and calm flat seas as we navigated the channel […]

Boat Winch Battery Boat Winch Battery

Today found Bob working on the anchor winch battery. Connected to the house batteries which are situated level with the entrance to the boat, with the anchor winch battery positioned in the forward cabin, it is quite a cable run to connect the two. As a result, there is a lack of charge to the […]

Tale of a Mortar and Pestle Tale of a Mortar and Pestle

I have never owned a mortar and pestle, determining the expense just not worth while. On my exploration and rearranging of items within the cupboards, I came across one hidden in the space below the oven. Vibrantly bright in colour and large with two handles jutting out from the side, I chose to leave it […]

Removal of the Gear Box Removal of the Gear Box

The remainder of yesterday found Bob working on the removal of the gearbox, a process not as easy as one would imagine. Not familiar with the system and how it was interconnected, this was a slow steady process, as one misstep could cause a flood of seawater surging onboard, or a critical part severely damaged. […]

Departure Delayed Departure Delayed

Departure day the coming day, the morn saw Bob set the engine in motion. Having started her numerous times over the past month to ensure its systems were in working order, it should have been a breeze but once more, good ol’ Murph was up to his tricks. Looks like we’re not departing tomorrow after […]