Mercury bay

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This peninsula is to the east of Auckland, and I'd always wanted to come here ever since Uncle George sent us a board game when we were little called "Round new Zealand". It is stunning. we drove up the west coast of ot yesterday, stopping to have a look at some old gold mines. Then across an unsealed road through the mountains - visiting a square Kauri tree on the way, and down to this hostel called most aptly "on the beach". It is exactly. Mercury bay was named by captain Cook as he called in to watch Mercury pass the sun, and this bit of the bay is called Buffalo Bay because a ship of that name was wrecked here, and lies just in front of the hostel, under the water.

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Photos

Alex
checking out the goldmine. They had all the old crushing and grading machinery there - and it all worked very noisily - as well as a tour through the mines.

admiring
the square kauri tree. i don't think its really square, though one side did seem a bit flatter than round. we had to climb loads of steps to reach this one.

the road
winds its way through the bush. I find it quite hard driving these roads, they tip you up as you go round the bends. and often there isn't room to pass another car should you meet one. and there's a frighteningly steep drop for the unwary.

sailing
well, we meant to catch the ferry, but got waylaid by this lovely sailing boat, and went out all day on her instead. great decision,it was fantastic

windblown
and a bit weatherbeaten, but what fun.

the smallest beach
a squall came over so we pulled into this little cove. And after lunch we stripped to undies and swam in deep sea - i've never swum from a boat before, and wasn't about to miss a chance. it was lovely.

memorial
to the Buffalo, wrecked just out in the bay, and notice of Captain Cook and Mercury.

Comments

[Sue O'Brien]

Sailing Ship
The Sailing Ship adventure looks brill!! I plan to do a similar thing on Sydney Harbour very soon.

[Robyn Dodd]

Sailing
Well, I am envious! it looks like a perfect day out! Alex looks like a real sailor - were there other people on board? did they swim too?