We woke early and rang the kayaking company. It’s still all on, regardless of the tsunami warning … we later understood that Civil Defence’s expectations was that it would affect the North Island more (the TV showed some surges in Northland when we went back at the end of the day).
We had booked the trip called “Royale with Cheese”. At 9am we set off from Kaiteriteri beach in a water taxi to Bark Bay in the north where we were given an intro to sea kayaking. There wasn’t much instruction required apart from how to get into the kayak, how to paddle and how to keep dry.
Our party had three two-seater kayaks, with the German girl being lucky enough to be with the experienced guide. From there we paddled back south, exploring an inlets and circumnavigating Pinnacle Island where there were birds and seals.
A very filling lunch of sandwiches, muffins and cookies was served at Te Pukatea Bay where there were also toilet facilities. Of course, after lunch, we encountered a rough patch of water called Mad Mile … but that didn’t upset my stomach, surprisingly.
We parked ourselves off Adele Island to admire the birdsong coming off the island. It was just beautiful being able to hear so much chirping and singing … no wonder some sailing boats park themselves there too. Must be wonderful waking up to this!
Next was Fisherman’s Island where we’d beach ourselves so our guide could explain how we’d sail back. But there was a wedding in progress. Our German companion said she now knows where she wants to get married … all that she needs now is a man.
Sailing back involved putting the three kayaks side-by-side, held by the occupants of the centre kayak. The sail comprised of the picnic tarpaulin, held by the occupants of the outside kayaks (by hand in front, and attached to paddles at the back). Apparently we weren’t going much faster than paddling speed but it was a fair bit easier.
We briefly stopped at Split Apple Rock (a spherical rock that’s split) before returning to Kaiteriteri at about 4pm, having paddled and sailed 16km.
It was a very enjoyable day and we were glad we did the full (rather than half) day trip. It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t overly difficult … and I wasn’t even sore the next day. And we couldn’t have picked a more gorgeous day for it … despite the tsunami warning.
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- Getting our equipment read on Kaiteriteri beach.
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- Others setting off on a water taxi much like ours.
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- Starting our kayaking.
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- Going into an inlet.
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- Birds … I’m so bad at this, I can’t be more specific. Could they be comorants? Surely not without a rope around its neck and a fisherman at the other end?
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- Pinnacle Island where there were seals.
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- Te Pukatea Bay where we stopped for lunch.
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- Te Pukatea Bay where we stopped for lunch.
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- Te Pukatea Bay where we stopped for lunch.
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- That’s a spray-skirt … it keeps you and the kayak dry as it fits right over the opening that you sit in.
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- Ain’t the water gorgeous?
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- He looks like he knows what he’s doing … and he does.
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- Getting close to Fisherman’s Island.
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- Ain’t the water gorgeous?
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- Wedding on Fisherman’s Island.
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- Me keeping the kayaks together while those on the side hold up the sail.
