We didn't expect to be able to go out on the water on the second day, as the storm had raged to the point that we chose to sleep in the back of the car, rather than in the tent, to prevent total water-logging.
However, by morning, the storm had passed, leaving Paihia warm, sunny and full of debris.
So, we drove into Paihia to the main part of the beach, near the kayak hire shed. There's free parking right on Marsdon road, though the time limit is four hours. This is plenty for a decent length paddle and early in the morning, there's no competition for parking spaces. However, later on in the morning, during peak tourist times at least, the parks fill up very quickly. If all else fails and the tide is in, you could go to the next bay over, before Paihia. The roads around it have free parking and the side near the Beachcomber Resort seems to have free unlimited parking, too. However, at mid-low tide, this bay is a mudflat, so is not such a good option unless you're okay walking up a long mudflat before getting to water and even further before you get to water that's deep enough to paddle on.
We set out to Motuarahi island, which is about 200m out, according to Google Maps. We paddled to the lateral side and landed to explore. Much like Motumaire island, the centre was closed off for Dotterel breeding grounds, but the island had lots of deep rockpools and weathered rocks to explore and climb. Looking back at the mainland from here, you get a fantastic view of the mainland, with Paihia seemingly sinking into the dense vegetation around it. When the sun shines on the town, it looks beautiful as the light reflects out, contrasting the difference in colours between the buildings and encompassing forests.
Setting off from Motuarahi, we paddled closer to the shore, deciding to follow it around. There's a nature reserve of sorts, right on the coast. Though I think it's inaccessible from the water, it's good to look at while paddling along. Further along, you'll find secret beaches to enjoy and plenty of boats to avoid.
As you get further away from Paihia and Motuarhi island, you paddle in far more exposed waters which tends to get choppy and windy. This isn't too bad, but the water depth varies rapidly around there, so you can go from deep to shallow in a matter of strokes. However, continuing on this way is well worth the risk of getting grounded. As you travel into more rural territory, the landscapes get more and more vivid, growing more rugged and vibrant as you go. Plenty of secluded spots to chill out under tree cover before returning or carrying on your journey. You can carry on along the mainland for quite some time, with scenic reserves and inlets as a spectacular view. Though I don't know how the currents run, you could possibly explore Kawakawa river and the many snaking channels that go through it. However, I'd recommend finding out the currents and possible dangers of the river before checking it out. Especially if you've got the paddle back to Paihia Beach. Perhaps the river could act as it's very own paddling expedition.
The coasts around here are magnificent to look at and are a serene change to the bustling nature of Auckland, though it is important to watch for the tides and mudflats, as you don't want to end up stranded off shore.
We didn't follow the coast for too long, stopping at a sheltered beach before English bay. The shape of this beach was intriguing, as it drove sharply inland. It made a good rest point the trees were a good place to explore.
Setting off from there, we went directly out to Te Wahapu Inlet, a closed off nature reserve which at high tide offers mangroves to paddle through and at low tide, mangrove forests to walk through.
Due to increasing windspeed and chop, we decided to paddle back to Paihia, choosing the deeper and more direct waters, rather than back along the shoreline. This was far more exposed and choppy, although manageable for anyone confident on their board. Going this way does involve more boat traffic, so it is important to stay vigilant and not get in their way.
The coast around Paihia has so much to offer and, due to the weather, I barely scratched the surface. Carrying along past English bay will get you to Opua, with plenty of inlets and streams deep into the heart of the Northland Forest park; Going straight out for about 6km can get you to Russel, although paddling out to Pomare, Orango and Uruti bays, a secluded cluster of bays before Russel would offer a more scenic route.
Of course, travelling left will take you to Te Ti bay and up further along the coastline, which I did not get the chance to explore.
In good weather, Paihia is a fantastic place to paddle, with diverse scenery and locations, from lagoons, to rivers, to the islands at sea. The water remains pretty calm, without getting overly choppy, making it a suitable place for beginners, but also remains interesting for the more experienced, with chances for longer stretches.
There's so much to explore that you could spend numerous days out there and still not see all of it, though it is important to watch for the changing tides and wind levels, which can be deceptively quick.
No comments:
Post a Comment