Mumuwhangata

(Correction – there were lots of cows and related byproduct, but the correct name of the bay(as pointed out by John Henrics – FPB64 – 5 – Tiger) is Mimiwhangata – not MooMooWhangata:) )

Nice day and we slipped the lines in Whangarei and headed north with no definite plan as to where we were going to end up. First, a few shots of the Whangarei heads as we left the harbor.

Headed north from here, most people head for Tutukaka or leap all the way around Cape Brett to the Bay of Islands. Fact is, there are numerous small places to stop along the way (taking in to account wind direction and swells) that few, if any, people ever visit. So we passed on Tutukaka and made for Mumuwhangata – a nice bay that one of the cruising guides speak highly of (and specifically mentions that hey have never seen anyone there).

Enroute, a large pod of very large dolphins showed up and put on a show that makes Sea World pale by comparison. These fellows were running on the pressure waves off the bow and stabilizer fins and were jumping out of the water as high as 8 to 10 feet. They seemed to like all the attention we paid to them and the more we made a fuss, the more they put on a show. Really neat.

As we approached the bay, the rock formations were fantastic. We anchored off a lovely beach and got permission to come ashore and do some hiking.

The views were spectacular.

Joe went on a more ambitious walk then Deb and me, but you still have to be part billy goat to get around NZ. That’s the dink down in the bay.

Great day, nice sunset and we battened down for the next round of nasty weather (which arrived – you guessed it – at 2 AM). Gale to storm force winds are forecast beginning tomorrow so the plan is to seek a safe anchorage in the Bay of Islands.