Author: richwest3

Incredible Bay, Whangaroa Harbor (New Zealand)

March 10, 2013

Cyndi and one of her many guide books.
Cyndi and one of her many guide books.

All of Cyndi’s (compulsive) guide book studying paid off today.  We are anchored in an incredible bay!  We’re tucked in a little nook that put us out of the wind.  Fifty feet away, it’s blowing 20 knots.  Here, 2 knots, sunny and warm.  This is the view looking out of the companionway hatch…

The view from inside Legacy tonight.
The view from inside Legacy this afternoon.

Milford Island Evenings (Owhatanga Bay, Whangaroa Harbour, New Zealand)

March 8 & 9, 2013

Our favorite time of day at our Owhatanga Bay anchorage was the evening. The whole area would become washed in a golden light, followed by a colorful sunset; then finishing with the sight of dramatic mountain silhouettes against a dusky sky. This south-side anchorage, away from the tall cliffs on the north side of the harbor, had its perks. These pictures cover the progression of an evening in Owhatanga Bay. –Cyndi

Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand
Milford Island, New Zealand

Photos from the Kingfish Lodge Whangaroa, New Zealand

March 9, 2013

Here are some pictures of our boat taken today (just because we like them.) -Rich

Legacy at a mooring at Kingfish Lodge in Whangaroa. All of these pictures are taken from Kingfish Lodge.
Legacy at a mooring at Kingfish Lodge in Whangaroa. All of these pictures are taken from Kingfish Lodge.
On deck, just before going ashore for a fantastic lunch.
On deck, just before going ashore for a fantastic lunch.
From the lodge grounds.
From the lodge grounds.
There's a bench out on this point just up ahead. A perfect place to admire your boat.
There’s a bench out on this point just up ahead. A perfect place to sit and admire your boat.
At the other end is an old WWII gun emplacement. Another great view.
At the other end is an old WWII gun emplacement. Another great view.
(At this distance, you can't see that there's any varnish work necessary!)
(At this distance, you can’t see that there’s any varnish work necessary!)
What a spectacular background!
What a spectacular background!

Kingfish Lodge, Whangaroa, New Zealand

March 9, 2013

We motored about thirty mintues from our nice night’s anchorage to the moorings provided by the Kingfish Lodge, near the entrance to Whangaroa Harbor.  Wow!  We’ve written about some special hotels before – ones that you wouldn’t normally see or know about – ones that we’ve run across cruising.  The Kingfish Lodge is one of those very special hotels.

You can only get here by boat or helicopter as there are no roads that lead to the resort.  The grounds are beautiful and the lunch was destination food.  We had steak and fish, both incredible.  Desert was just as good – sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and ice cream.  Oh, how we rough it when we cruise! -Rich

The front of the lodge facing the bay with incredible views.
The front of the lodge facing the bay with incredible views.
The Lodge's pier - boaters are made very welcome.
The Lodge’s pier – boaters are made very welcome.
The bar.
The bar.
The grounds are beautiful. We stumbled on this little picnic spot.
The grounds are beautiful. We stumbled on this little picnic spot.
A view from the deck where we had lunch.
A view from the deck where we had lunch.
Also taken from the deck.
Also taken from the deck.

Here are links to some other special hotels we’ve written about…

Pearl Ridge Lodge – Nuku Hiva
Pearl Ridge – Hiva Oa
Moano O Sina, American Samoa
Seabreeze Resort, Western Samoa
Tongan Beach Resort, Vava’u, Tonga
White Sand Beach Resort, Fakarava, French Polynesia