Just cruisin’

Monday 24 March

A lovely leisurely cruise up the coast of the Coromandel, passing all the well-known summer beauty spots our friends and family visit, awe-inspiring rocky outcrops, including two that are known as the Twins, all sitting in beautiful shades of the blue and turquoise Pacific.  We’re headed for the Mercury Islands a group of seven islands eight kilometres off the coast.  One in particular, Great Mercury Island, is privately owned by two people we both know, and is the only island with permanent residents and public access.

We finally arrived at Great Mercury late afternoon and anchored in Sheep Bay for the night.  What a beauty of a bay – the turquoise water is as clear as a bell right down to the sandy bottom, and the beach is made up of idyllic white sand surrounded by native foliage and little rocky outcrops.  We were just drifting around relaxing in the cockpit when I heard a dinghy come near and someone say my name – what a surprise to meet Gary, brother of Sheryl and her husband Mike, who joined us on our memorable sail from the Panama Canal through to Ecuador, Galapagos and as far as the Marquesas in 2022 - Gary was also anchored in the Bay and recognised Salanjo from the photos Sheryl had taken of their trip.  He popped back and collected his lovely wife Leanne, and the four of us had a few drinks and a very sociable few hours.

Tuesday 25 March

We couldn’t leave without having a walk on that beautiful beach in front of us – it was just awesome, and someone had kindly erected a rope swing which I had a (not so successful) swing on!  And then it was time to leave and explore some of the other beaches from the boat – Peachgrove Bay, Whaler Cove to name a few – I’m going to be a little repetitive again when I say how lucky we are, and how stunning New Zealand is – sandy, empty beach, after sandy empty beach all glinting in the sunshine and looking out onto turquoise seas – with not a soul in sight.

We anchored in Little Bay and then would you believe it – two of Geoff’s friends, Sally and Bill, were on the beach and noticed Salanjo’s arrival.  They went to their home and got out the binoculars to double check and at the same time, noticed a missed call from Geoff who had called to see if they were home.  So the two of us got into the dinghy and navigated a walk around the rocks where Bill met us in his little 4WD at the end of the beach and we zoomed up to their house where we had a great couple of hours together with a wonderful view of Salanjo down in the Bay – and once again, memories for Sally and Bill who had also had a holiday up in Fiji on Salanjo many years ago!

Wednesday 26 March

And we’re off, next stop Port Charles, another lovely coastline to watch as we drift slowly by in the sunshine and a beautiful anchorage to enjoy watching the sunset with our sundowners.

Thursday 27 March

It’s 8.15am and we’ve now up-anchored on another stunning, sunny, morning and left the Coromandel district.  We’re homing in on Auckland – sails up and around the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, across the Colville Channel and into the Hauraki Gulf to Kawau Island where we are now anchored in Kawau Bay looking at the completely empty, beautiful sandy beach of Vivian Bay. 

It’s so relaxing I’m almost comatose, my fitbit is wondering what the hell has happened the last few days, hardly any steps to be counted!!!  So, feeling slightly guilty, we had a lovely swim and took the dinghy in so we could walk on that beautiful beach.  Last time we were here was when we cruised up to the Bay of Islands in January last year and the beach was packed with holidaymakers – so it was awesome having it all to ourselves today. 

Back onto the boat and the wind had come in so we pulled the anchor up and moved into Mansion House Bay facing the iconic Mansion House.  Originally the residence for the mine superintendent on the island it was then purchased by Sir George Grey in 1862, one of New Zealand’s most influential and controversial political figures.  Since 1967 it has been in public ownership and was extensively restored to its former glory in the late 1970’s, and furnished with a valuable collection of antique furnishings which were largely donated. It is now open to the public.  It was lovely to sit in the dark and see it magnificently backlit in front of us.

Friday 28 March

Another lovely lazy day, making the most of it before we head home and back to normality!   We had a much- needed walk around the Mansion House and up to Ladies Bay and Coppermine Bay where you can see the remains of the brick stack and engine house ruins of the Coppermine engine house built when copper was discovered here in 1842.  The mine opened four years later in what was believed to have been the first underground mining operation in New Zealand.  No-one around here at all, except for those sitting on a few boats in the bay.

Saturday 29 March

Last day of our cruise today – and what a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday!  We did a triangular cruise from Mansion Bay around to Mahurangi, passing the old Coppermine engine house, and up past Algies Bay, Snells Beach, Sandspit and then back over to Bon Accord Harbour and we are now anchored in School House Bay for a relaxing afternoon before dinner at the Kawau Yacht Club.