Trip Reports


2015 - Below are a few of the varied paddles done during the year by the North Shore Yakkers. 

Stoney Bay , Coromandle camp
This was a three day February tenting at Stoney Bay on the end of the Coromandle Peninsular. The weather was 10-20 kn. most of the time and some days the swell was 0.5 mtr. which meant that rock gardening couldn't be carried out in most areas. Great paddling tho. The Saturday trip between Stoney and Fletchers Bays is magnificent, with towering cliffs on one side and the great Pacific on the other. On Sunday, Joya had to leave the group but the many other leaders took over and carried on with a paddle south to Port Albert and further down the coast. There is a big cave system just out of Stoney Bay that is deep enough that a torch is needed to fully explore it. Great place!

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Greenhithe to Albany on the upper harbour.
This is a great beginners day trip when there is a midday high tide. Get on the water at Rame Rd boat ramp and meander up the estuary on the tide. Have lunch in the reserve behind the Albany shops and feed the ducks and geese. Then meander back down on the tide to the Rame Rd ramp. This paddle is fairly protected in many winds so is fairly reliable providing the tide is right.
The price of a photograph

Night paddling in April
150411-HarBridge01ShelleyThis is a great paddle day or night, from Birkenhead down the harbour and under the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It's all technicolour at the best of times during the night but there was an art  light show up on the bridge superstructure for a month also.
Nominally a beginners paddle, there is always a bit of chop and disturbed water under the bridge which can be a little challenging. Also there are plenty of ferries and other boat traffic to keep an eye out on, particularly when going past their wharves. It's a good paddle to learn about boating traffic from the experienced paddlers.

ANZAC morning at Sullivan's Bay
We stayed at Sullivan's camp on the Friday night and intended to have a dawn ceremony then head out to Motuora Island for the weekend. The weather put paid to our plans so we went up the Waiwera estuary instead. This is a long inland waterway that passes under the new motorway extension then winds amoung the farms folded into the hils of Waiwera then meanders almost to the back of Silverdale. Lots to see along the way.
150425-ANZAC Dawn

Mangakino Camp on the very end of April - Another well-organised camp, thank you Ruth.
We stayed in a house in Mangakino township opposite the golfing greens. We went up Mangakino River into the gorge. It's like the Whanganui in miniature. Beautiful. 
150531-MangakinoRiver-DM03-cropped
We also paddle on Lake Maraitai on the Saturday, exploring all the tributaries. Saturday night was a shared meal, coordinated by Shelley. A magnificent respast. On Sunday, some people walked or cycled and others found more little lakes to play in. I think I'll be back next year.

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