Northern Cruising Hot Spots                  North Of Kawau

Let take it that you all have your local cruising ground of Kawau & Great Barrier under control so we are taking you north.

As we are in for a El Nino Summer we are expecting Westerly’s so the coast is your oyster this year… time to explore

1st Stop Whangarei Harbour, 40nm from Kawau, (67nm from Akld)

Marsden Cove Marina offers, berthage, haul out, fuel & full marine services

Anchorages Urquharts Bay and just to the north Tauikura Bay,

Good holding Mud & Sand and protection from N – SE

2nd Stop is Tutukaka Harbour, just 20nm, from Urquharts Bay, (80nm from Akld)

A popular stop off on your way north, Marina, Fuel & a great fishing club.

Watch out for the swell entering the Tutukaka Head if rolling from the east, the entrance is wider than it looks on approach & good channel marking once inside the harbour.

3rd Stop over Poor Knights Islands, Just 12nm from Tut’s

Awesome diving, Game fishing, keep an eye on the fishing reserves.

Make sure you check out Rikoriko cave in Maroro Bay.

Yes, your Riviera will fit inside the cave, just be careful on approach as often you can’t see boats that are already in there, it’s a big cave, if in doubt ask a friend who has been there first or jump in the tender and check it out first.

4th Stop, just 5-7nm North of Tutukaka are a few awesome locations

From the south, Horse Shoe Bay, Matapouri Bay, Whale & Woolleys Bay

Horse Shoe Bay & Matapouri Bay exposed to the East

Whale Bay & Woolleys Bay afford some protection from the East & SE swell.

Typically a sand anchorage with a few bricks to watch out for in Horse Shoe Bay & Matapouri Bay

Watch out for Elisabeth Reef as you head north, you can go both sides of it…

Exposed and breaks, even the navy can it it as proven when they drove the Commodores barge a 60’ launch on to it on the way south from Waitangi celebrations.

Time to explore guys….