10 November 2024 -New Zealand- Kawau Island.

We had a good lie in and slept to about 8.30am which was unusual but needed. Some boats had left the bay and some had arrived. Apparently Auckland has the highest number of boats per capita in the world and we had noticed lots of small fishing boats hanging around and fishing.

We had a cooked breakfast and then prepared ourselves to move on round Kawau Island. We upped anchor and we headed west around the island and saw various bays including South Bay which had an old copper mine in it with its chimney sticking up – quite like Cornwall. We could see its structure and chimney and it looked it great against the background of the rocks and bay.

We carried on round and came across Mansion House Bay which had a large house in a bay. We continued on round and came across Shark Bay but we anchored in the middle of the middle of the harbour as this was easy and safe and not far from the Kawau Boating Club.

We rang up the Kawau Boating  Club and they were open and were happy for us to visit as guests. We went ashore about 12.30pm and had a drink and then a nice lunch outside whilst watching the bay with a number of boats coming to anchor for lunch at the club. This was a great club and they were very welcoming.

When at lunch I recognised a man whose shop we had been in at Russell and where Keith had bought a jumper and some shoes and I had bought a top. Keith had mentioned whilst shopping my trip and I had then talked to this man called Adam about my trip and he had expressed some interest. When I saw him again at the boating club he said he wanted a word. He came over and said he had talked to his wife and he would be interested in joining some time next year. I took his details and said I would email him. What a coincidence to meet him randomly like that again.

After lunch we took Keith back to Stormbird and then Joyce, Erika and I went ashore to School House Bay where we moored the dinghy and then we walked over the hill and through the forest to Mansion House Bay.  This was a house/mansion house built by Sir George Grey, the first governor of NZ who had bought the island in 1908 and the house is situated on the land of the manager of the Coppermine which us in the next-door bay. He had introduced various plants and trees and animals including wallabies which we saw whilst walking to the house which was quite a surprise.

The house was closed but had an impressive position with peacocks ranging around and fine gardens and a range of trees.  Copper mining had begun on the island in 1844 and at one stage 300 people worked in mining. The industry was plagued with problems and disputes and closed in 1851. The engine house we can still see with its chimney housed a steam pump to clear the mine of water.

We retraced our steps and by this time it was drizzling and we got a bit wet. We returned to School House Bay to collect the dinghy and returned to Stormbird to dry off. By the evening the rain cleared away and the skies brightened and we enjoyed a sundowner in the cockpit. We had a light supper of cheese and biscuits which was fine. It is Erika’s last day and night as she will take a ferry in the morning to the mainland and get a bus to Auckland. We will then be down to three.

The picture of the day is Mansion House Bay with the old Mansion.

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com