Whale Bay (Northland, New Zealand)

December 27, 2012

Dear diary… We spent Christmas with Dean and Sabina from Local Talent in Whangarei.  We had a really nice time.  We stayed an extra night so we could catch the Lord of the Rings movie in 3D at 48 frames per second.  Ho hum.  Yesterday we took the scenic drive back to Opua.  Wow.  We also got in a little hike…

After 35 minutes on the Stairmaster, this on and a bunch of it's friends...
After 35 minutes on the Stairmaster, this one and a bunch of it’s friends…
Huff, puff, huff, puff, cough, wheeze...
Huff, puff, huff, puff, cough, wheeze…
We were treated to this view...
We were treated to this view…
And this view of Whale Bay.
And this view of Whale Bay.  Thank you Cyndi.  You were right.  It was worth it!

-Rich

Northland Excursion, The Tutukaka Coast (Part 5): Woolley’s Beach and Whale Bay (New Zealand)

December 27, 2012

Heading down the path towards Whale Bay, we were treated to a beautiful view of two bays to the north:  Woolley’s Bay and Sandy Bay.  Woolley’s has a beautiful little beach between two rocky points that’s popular for picnicking and swimming.  The big bay beyond that, Sandy Bay, is popular with surfers.

A view of Wooley's Bay and Sandy Bay from the trail to Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
A view of Wooley’s Bay and Sandy Bay from the trail to Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
A closer view of Sandy Bay and it's big beach. (Northland, New Zealand)
A closer view of Sandy Bay and it’s big beach. (Northland, New Zealand)

After continuing down the path, we arrived at one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, Whale Bay, a perfect crescent of white sand and blue-green water backed by a thick wall of trees.  It had been well worth the 25-minute hike to get here.

Our first view of Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
Our first view of Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
Heading down the trail to Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
Heading down the trail to Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
The beach at Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)
The beach at Whale Bay. (Northland, New Zealand)

After lingering at Whale Bay, we turned and once again enjoyed the scenery along the hike back to the car.  Now it was time to drive towards Sandy Bay, where the road turns and heads back through the countryside to the main highway.

About five minutes into our drive, we came to a well-marked parking lot for Whale Bay.  It seems we could have parked there and had a much easier and shorter walk, and I felt a little silly until I realized that I would not have wanted to miss the beautiful walk we took.  I think Rich, in spite of not feeling well, would agree.

Our drive back to the highway was just as beautiful as the drive out to the coast, and it was well worth making the entire loop.  In spite of the gray day, this was one of our favorite expeditions. –Cyndi

No excursion blog is complete without at least one picture from the car. (Northland, New Zealand)
No excursion blog is complete without at least one picture from the car. (Northland, New Zealand)