Back To The Sea – Tutukaka Coast

Woolleys BayOn Wednesday we left Whangarei, heading north-east towards the Tutukaka Coast. We’d been there back in 2009 and were looking forward to returning. We remembered the lovely beaches and the clarity of the sea. We’d picked out a couple of walks to try out and the weather looked reasonable for a couple of days. So we set off for the sea.

The drive out to the coast goes through an area called Glenbervie which has some extraordinary stone walls. It reminds me of parts of the Otago Peninsula. The rocks are probably of volcanic origin. With the volcanic soils Glenbervie is also home to a lot of orchards.

Wyn at Glenbervie; stone walls, magnolias and bags of oranges

Wyn at Glenbervie; stone walls, magnolias and bags of oranges at the gate.

Before long we reached the coast and followed it north. We stopped off at Tutukaka which has a marina and that’s where the boat trips head out to the Poor Knights Islands. I’m a sucker for marinas. There’s something about all the boats lined up neatly. Big ones and little ones. All neatly ship-shape.

Tutukaka marina

Tutukaka marina

We carried on north to Woolleys Bay. We parked up at the reserve and headed off for a walk. Back along the beach and along the ridgetop to Whale Bay nearby. Whale Bay is a lovely beach that one of the jewels in the Tutukaka coast crown.

Woolleys Bay Tutukaka Coast

Woolleys Bay Tutukaka Coast. Whale Bay is out towards the headland.

Woolleys Beach looking north

Woolleys Beach looking north to Whananaki

The way to Whale Bay

The way to Whale Bay

There are some wonderful old trees along the ridge. Some could get parts in horror movies; or is that just my imagination?

Puriri tree Whale Bay track

Puriri tree Whale Bay track

Strange trees on the Whale Bay track

Strange trees on the Whale Bay track

 

Whale Bay Tutukaka Coast

Whale Bay Tutukaka Coast. The yellow is kowhai trees in full bloom.

The track down to Whale Bay

The track down to Whale Bay

The beach at Whale Bay

The beach at Whale Bay

Woolleys Bay from Whale Bay

Woolleys Bay from Whale Bay

Whale Bay

Whale Bay back towards Woolleys Bay. We had it to ourselves. I imagine it is very different in the middle of summer.

Another Puriri tree on the Wale Bay track

Another Puriri tree on the Wale Bay track. To say they have character would be an understatement.

Woolleys Bay

Woolleys Bay at the end of the day. The colony of birds on the rocks were not very friendly in the morning.

Woolleys Bay reserve

Woolleys Bay reserve

 

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One Response to Back To The Sea – Tutukaka Coast

  1. gay dornbusch says:

    What stunning scenery and thank you for sharing. I’ve never been above Auckland so its great to see what I’ve missed

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