Lake Tikitapu, Rotorua

Crickey, I've been slack recently. I've been meaning to write this for about a month and a half now, but considering my hugely niche audience of, well, me, I figure it's not such a great loss.
I was intending to check out some more of the lakes in Rotorua, but storms hit and we had to leave early. C'est la vie.


Tikitapu, the blue lake in Rotorua is renowned for it's crystal clear waters that are an unusually vibrant shade of blue, much like a sodalite crystal. It's a small fresh water lake surrounded by lush evergreen hills in the throes of no cell phone reception with the exception of Telecom in some areas.
 However, you won't want to be attached to your phone or near the Wi-fi while you're here, especially if you're used to the big city-scapes.
A serene setting, with the exception of the jet-skiiers, who seem to shatter the zen-like tranquility with exuberant ignorance. My distaste for jetskis aside, this is an excellent place to paddle, day or night.

The sun shrinking away over the hills, leaving us to put the tent up in darkness. Why we chose an 8 man tent for three people, I'll never know. We managed to put it up with little difficulty, all choosing our own specialisations: The engineering student constructing the poles and placing them in the needed places with careful precision; the paramedicine student holding things up and checking for tent rips and me, the information systems student jamming the tent pegs into the ground with such chaotic brutality, it all seemed to work beautifully.
 A mere few metres from the lake, my excitement to paddle on it could hardly be contained, especially seeing as the weather had appeared to hold out. Only, I had thought too soon. Rain pelted us all night, but thankfully the freakishly large tent kept as dry and warm.

About 6am, it's drizzling and I figure that's as good as the weather is going to get. Without disturbing the others, I grab my gear and go out for an early morning paddle. The beach isn't the most inviting out there, as it jabs and stabs your feet, but the minor annoyance is worth it for the paddle.
 When facing away from the campsite, looking directly at the lake, everything is so natural and unspoiled, save for a few buoys on the water.
 A bit disconcerting, though are these really rusty old pipes that lead from the beach right into the water. No doubt they are safe and not leaky, but they aren't the most aesthetic.
I couldn't tell whether the sun had risen as it was light enough, but this dense fog had settled amongst the trees, creating an eerie Cabin in the woods type feel. It was mysterious and so quiet. Brilliant.
 The water was cold, far colder than the sea, and it gets very deep very quickly. You don't quite notice it, but then you're 4 metres or so out and you're up to your neck in refreshingly frigid water (if you're as short as I am). On my first lap, I looked mainly around at the trees; near the shore, palms and tropical type plants, all a vibrant green, which, as your eye skirts further up the hills, transcends to a deep, chlorophyll rich hue of the evergreens.
 The fog, completely blanching out some nearby hills and fading others, gradually shifting around and clearing to reveal a glorious grey sky, threatening more rain.

I've never seen such flat water, it's a cliche indeed, but the water was glass. Untouched, unrippled, static, but not stagnant. With no wind and no tides, paddling around felt frictionless, though I did notice a current that got stronger, pulling you away from the beach, the further you went out. Nothing that couldn't be handled while swimming, though.  The low resistance from the water and negligible wind would make this an excellent place to train for races and beating personal records. I found that without constant cross-waves and boat wake to contend with, I was able to focus solely on technique, which was a refreshing bonus.

Paddling back to shore and out again, I noticed this time, the change in underwater scenery. Starting off with the volcanic shale-like beach, to some ominously dark plants, almost black in colour. So deep under that it took a while to be able to differentiate the dark mass and identify it as plant. Then, without warning, these plants disappear into rich blue and that's all you ever see from then on. It's a bit disconcerting at first, as it's like looking down into a solid wall of colour, with no definition, debris, anything. Just blue. I stuck my paddle completely under water as a depth test and found that it was very hard to see the end of it, which was very peculiar, but intriguing nonetheless.

So serene, no sounds but that of the birds and the awakening cicadas. The gentle lapping of water as my board glides through the water. Then the sound of a raspy engine, screams, hooligans? No, just jetskiiers enjoying the last of the summer holidays. Blisteringly shattering the slumber of this previously unfettered lake.

It's worth a trip to paddle on and it's great to explore with a few others. Watch for the boats and jetskis and also for the swimmers. There are areas for swimming only, but as long as you're vigilent, it's okay to paddle. I'd be wary of going into the boating area, just as they do seem to come out of nowhere.

It's the only freshwater I've paddled on and it was awesome. A different feel to salt water, you do notice the slight lack of buoyancy while swimming and even on the board, but you adapt pretty quickly.

I hope to return there, soon.

Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh

This marine reserve is home to a vivid and diverse range of sea-life, making it a popular place for snorkelers and divers. The many rocks and kelp dense areas make excellent homes for the fish and also an interesting place to explore. Goat island itself is about 200m out from the mainland and is accessible enough to check out the rockpools and chill out for a bit, too.

 Parking is abundant and free, with quick access to the beach and the campsite just down the road from the site is reasonably priced, though booking is essential.

There are three parts to the beach; a large, grassy bank, which is out of the way and tends to be fairly empty, making it a good place to set up; the main beach, large and crowded, but a good launch point for the boards and the rock faces, which vary in accessibility depending on tides and are great starting point for snorkeling, but not so much for launching on a paddleboard.

 The water between Goat Island and the mainland is sheltered from the wind and so remains fairly flat, making it a good place to paddle, as the waters are crystal clear. The beach area is far more exposed, making the water choppy and even hints at a small surf. It is still the best place to launch from, though as you've got less chance of being knocked towards the rocks and once you get past the break, it's dead flat.

It's a really easy place to paddle and seems safe, with no strong currents to drag you away. Unlike other paddling locations, the best views are actually below you, making it somewhat better to perhaps sit on the board to watch the fish for a while. However, if you're intent on paddling around the vast landscapes will not disappoint and you'll still see you fair share of fish while on the move.
 Paddling right around Goat Island is a feasible task, which offers plenty of places to land and explore, though the majority of the island is sheer or part of the University of Auckland research laboratory.

Snorkeling/diving is simply a must at the reserve. It is rare to see such a range of fish so close to the shore, especially fish that do not seem to be affected by human presence. Combining the two is certainly possible, perhaps paddling out and around Goat Island before landing your board and going for a swim, or even as I saw some people doing, keeping a board with them and holding on to it as they looked underwater. This would be a good option for those not confident with ocean swimming.
 Either way it doesn't really matter, but to really appreciate the wonders of the reserve, you've got to get right into the thick of it.

 When paddling, it is really important to look out for the snorkelers. It's easy to get distracted while watching the fish, so many people don't stop to look at where they are going or if there are any hazards around. You've got to be their eyes and keep out of their way, which can be difficult when you are surrounded by them.
 The other hazard is the glass bottom boat. This goes for paddling and snorkeling. It is very large and doesn't seem to stop for anything, so it's absolutely integral to keep out of it's way and warn anyone who may be getting  a little close to the outboard motors.
 Finally, make sure to only paddle around high tide. This is when the majority of the rocks are under enough water to paddle over without getting caught or stranded, but also when the water is flattest.

 From what I saw of the changing water throughout the day, low wind or off shore winds with little to no swell would be optimal conditions for this beach. These tend to be the flattest conditions, making it more desireable due to increased visibility.

I'm not sure why it is called Goat Island, but as a part of the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Reserve, it is a truly spectacular place to visit, especially in the summer.
 Whether you are more interested in landscapes or sealife, it's easy to spend a day or two exploring the reserve, which stretches on for 500 hectares, so there is plenty to see and do.

Narrowneck beach, North Shore

This is probably my favourite local beach to paddleboard at. It's a fairly open beach, so although there's not much to explore on it's own, there are plenty of places to travel to, in all directions.  

 Parking next to the beach is limited, although there is a large carpark across the road, both of which are free and have no time-limit, which is pretty rad. There's also a cafe and a park to refuel at after a long trek, which is also handy. 

 The beach itself is wide and exposed, leading to it being easily battered by the wind, making it messy and rough in some conditions. 

 However, for the most part Narrowneck is known to be glassy and clear, especially in the mornings. 

 Choosing to stay in the realms of Narrowneck won't get you much scenery, although the stationary view of Rangitoto that you will get is beautiful. However, the generally glassy conditions lend themselves to endurance and flat-water race training, aided by the buoys about 200m out.  

 Close to the shore, you'll get good beginners conditions and you may even catch some runners on your way in. Further out, on a wider board or kayak is perfect for fishing, especially in the morning sun. 

The best part about Narrowneck, though is that it is a great starting point for adventure! 

 Turning left and you'll be off towards Takapuna and Milford, with lots of nooks and secret beaches along the way, although one may want to avert one's eyes at St. Leonard's, the supposed nudist beach!

  You'll see rugged cliff faces and vast open sea, with plenty of awesome sealife to accompany you. This is a popular, short journey which is good for getting used to longer distance paddling. Take note of the wind direction and tides, however. It's easy to get dragged out further than you think, or get grounded upon the rocks if you're not careful.

 Shifting to the right of Narrowneck, you'll end up in Cheltenham or Devonport. This journey tends to be more sheltered than to Takapuna, which makes it a good option if the conditions are a bit rougher. The views are more village-like, but you'll also see the abandoned WWII tunnels in North head and the surrounding cliffs, which are pretty eerie. It is important to note that off-shore winds make it a breeze to paddle towards Devonport, but coming back may make it more arduous. 

 Paddling straight out will take you to Rangitoto island. This is a straight-forward paddle which will save you the potentially steep ferry fare. It also means that you can go when you want, instead of sticking to the ferry's schedule. Along the way, you'll pretty much just be seeing Rangitoto, as it is a rather big island, but time it right and you'll see the sun rising over the top of it, which is truly spectacular.  

 Remember that you are crossing the main container ship path to Auckland. These ships move deceptively fast - if you see one crossing your path, stop and wait for it to go past rather than risk it. They won't stop for you, funnily enough. 

 Assuming you don't get in the way of one of the ships, you'll eventually arrive at Rangtoto; a giant, green, dormant volcano which you can climb. The walk up is decent, but not too gruelling, unless the day is sweltering and muggy. It's totally worth it once you get to the top, though. The panoramic views of Auckland  are breath-taking, especially in the sun. 

 If you're not up to that, why not delve into the heart of Rangitoto, through the caves? It's a pretty mean walk, although remember to bring a torch with you, if you plan on seeing anything. 

 It's about 7km there and back, so you'd be sensible to bring water and it's probably a good idea to have a leash and some sort of flotation device, as the Rangitoto channel does get pretty deep. 

 Overall it's a beach with good potential, especially for beginners. As expected, it's flattest early in the morning, which is great if you like to be able to watch the sunrise. However, in summer, Narrowneck tends to stay pretty good throughout the day, making an evening paddle with a couple of beers at sunset a truly rewarding experience. 

Rangitoto Sunrise at Nearby Milford beach