April 11, 2013
After rounding the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, we headed down the other side to Great Mercury Island, which lies about five miles off the east side of the peninsula.
New Zealanders talk about Great Mercury Island with reverence. It’s not the easiest place to get to as it’s 65 miles from Auckland (plus you need to round the Coromandel Peninsula) and 70 miles from Tauranga (with tidal timing issues for entering and exiting). There are no ferries or places to stay, and unless you live in the town of Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, it’s a long trip over there in your own boat. It’s an effort to get to Great Mercury Island, but this remote place is very beautiful and special.
There are several anchorages to chose from, and we started with Parapara Bay. This is one of those places you drop your anchor and think wow, what a sweet place! Rolling golden grass hills, sandstone rock cliffs, and pohutukawa trees surrounded a crescent of white sand beach and turquoise water. We hadn’t even gone ashore yet and this was already one of my favorite places! –Cyndi
A gallery of Parapara Bay. Click to enlarge and scroll.
