Ross and Wyn Davies Travel Blog

Soujourn at Shelly Beach – Kaipara Harbour

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Ross

We finally moved on from Wharahine and headed down the Kaipara Harbour to Helensville, at the south end. On the way we made a stop at Kaukapakapa where Dad used to own the store back in the 1940s. Parts of the shop look unchanged from a long time ago. It is kind of strange to contemplate my father living and working here Continue reading →

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Catching Up With the Kaipara – Some of the Middle Bit

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Ross

From Tawharanui we retraced our steps back West to Warkworth. The weather wasn’t much good but we resisted the temptation to stay put. We headed north to Wellsford and then turned west again, on SH16 briefly, then north towards Port Albert on the Kaipara Harbour. Here we were able to stay on a farm, parked almost in front of the farm house. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Atiu Creek, Auckland, Auckland Regional Park, Port Albert, Wharehine | Leave a comment

Tawharanui Regional Park – The Other Days

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Ross

We kept thinking that the weather mightn’t hold. And were wanting to make the most of it while it lasted. July had been exceptional, and August was starting the same way. The biggest walk is to the eastern extremity, Tokatu Point. This is 3-4 hours and we decided that the day after our outing to Goat Island Marine Reserve was going to give us our best opportunity. Continue reading →

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Tawharanui Regional Park – and Goat Island

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Ross

From Snells Beach we didn’t move far. Tawharanui Regional Park is not far away – to the north east. We’d previously visited in the car, but wanted a longer stay. It is a lovely place; some say the jewel in the crown. The last few kilometers of the road in are interesting, but it looks like there has been some widening in the last couple of years. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Auckland, Auckland Regional Park, Goat Island, Omaha, Tawharanui | Leave a comment

Matakana Market and Snells Beach

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Ross

With the rain and wind coming from the east, we retreated from Scott Point to a lovely parkover place near Sandspit. We’d stayed there before in 2009 and it was nicely sheltered from the weather. It wasn’t a proper storm – and it had eased off by the next day. Which was lucky as it was Saturday and Saturday in these parts is Matakana Farmers Market. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Highfield Garden, Matakana, Sandspit, Snells Beach | Leave a comment

Scott Point – A small part of Mahurangi Regional Park Auckland

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Ross

From Scandrett Regional Park we headed over to the other side of the peninsula, down a long ridge to Scott Point. This was actually a small part of the Mahurangi Regional Park, the western portion of which we’d visited a few days before. They are separated by a short kayak paddle across the Mahurangi Harbour which narrows down to the Mahurangi River Continue reading →

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Scandrett – A Small Auckland Regional Park

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Ross

From Mahurangi we decided to head out from Warkworth to Scandrett Regional Park. At the Warkworth dump point I met a man who told me about the good opportunities to park up at Snells Beach so we decided we’d check them out and maybe spend a night there on the way through. Continue reading →

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Marvellous Mahurangi Regional Park – Auckland

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Ross

From Puhoi and the Sunday Farmers Market we continued north a few more kilometers on SH1 before turning off to the east to Mahurangi Regional Park. This is beside the sea, I guess the Hauraki Gulf although by that stage it is more the Mahirangi Harbour. This is a very historic harbour, with access via the tidal Mahurangi River at the head to Warkworth. Continue reading →

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Puhoi – Passing Through

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Ross

We were moving north from Wenderholm Regional Park and we had to almost go past Puhoi and it was the last Sunday of the month and that meant Puhoi Farmers Market. So what were we to do? Well… we detoured the couple of kms off SH1 to see Puhoi again. We’d last been there in the winter of 2009. It didn’t look to have changed much, which is good. Continue reading →

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Wenderholm Regional Park Auckland – Part 2

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Ross

Wenderholm has an interesting history. It was a focal point for Maori for close to 1000 years. It is at the mouth of the Puhoi River Estuary so was arrival point for the Bohemian settlers bound for the wilderness that was Puhoi. And it was the winter home (wenderholm) of a big-time Auckland entrepreneur and politician Robert Graham. He used it while he spent time at his Waiwera thermal resort about 1km away. As you might. Continue reading →

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Wenderholm Regional Park – Auckland – Part 1

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Ross

From Gulf Harbour we moved on a little way north, through Orewa and over the hill to Waiwera and Wenderholm Regional Park. We’ve been here a few times before and we’ve always liked the location and the peacefulness. Wenderholm was the first of the Regional Parks. It has a beach and an estuary through which the Puhio River flows. Continue reading →

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Gulf Harbour – Living Amongst It Briefly

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Ross

With our time up at Shakespear Regional Park, we moved on. But not far. Just over a couple of headlands to Gulf Harbour. Which is a bit of a contrast. Shakespear is a lovely park-like farm park/open wildlife sanctuary with lots of beaches and trees and birds. Gulf Harbour isn’t. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Auckland, Gulf Harbour, Whangaparoa | Leave a comment

Shakespear Regional Park – Auckland – Last Day

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Ross

We were coming to the end of our allowed week at Shakespear Regional Park – way down the far end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula on the north side of Auckland. Our last day was just beautiful. Warm and sunny and good. The Ranger had let us know about it being a tree planting day, where people can turn up and help plant trees. Continue reading →

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Shakespear Regional Park – Auckland – More Days

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Ross

We were enjoying staying at the park – and having it mostly to ourselves mid-week in July. And the weather was nice and we had nowhere else particularly to be. And the walks were doing us good – there are a number of interesting 1-2 hour walks. So what were we to do? We stayed put and made the most of it. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Auckland, Auckland Regional Park, Shakespear, walking | 2 Comments

Shakespear Regional Park – Auckland – Early Days

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Ross

Auckland has a large number of Regional Parks set aside for the public to enjoy. There are more than 25 of these gems. Most are beyond the urban fringe. Many are farm parks. Many are prime beach locations. They have been reserved by foresight, good luck and generous gifts. They used to be managed by the Auckland Regional Council but they’ve now come under the wing of the enlarged Auckland City. We think they are Auckland’s jewels in the crown. Continue reading →