Friday 6 December – off to the Mercury Islands

We headed to Whitianga after breakfast to pick up Carol, Tim and Benji. The tide was roaring into the river mouth against the wind, the water was in a real state with big choppy waves which got us pretty wet. We did a quick provision at the supermarket, Tim and Carol parked their campervan for a couple of nights.We had a coffee in town giving the tide a chance to settle down, we set off back to PolePole with the sea in the river mouth in a much calmer state.

We had a good sail up to the Mercury islands, admiring the weird shaped islands along the way. The island got its name from Cook on his first voyage of discovery to mark the place where his expedition observed the transit of the planet Mercury in 1769.

Benji was so chilled and relaxed with sailing it was hard to believe it was his first time on a boat, besides yesterday. There was a lot of excitement as we came across three big boil ups of fish, which must be being chased by a predator, and birds dive bombing from above. Tim had brought his fishing rod, and after about three casts with Rowan carefully driving towards the boil up he caught a decent size fish.

We went into an anchorage on the west of the island, it was so rolly we decided to move around to the east side to a very protected cove. Mercury Island was looking stunning with loads of Pohutukawa trees just about to burst into blossom. We came into the anchorage and there were already four boats there which was a bit surprising, one sailing boat and the rest motor launches and fishing boats. It is a magical cove with a narrow entrance with steep cliffs on either side, it was wonderfully calm inside.

We had a walk along the beach so that Benji could relieve himself. It was a lovely white beach with a whole lot of nesting gulls, which were fenced off, the chicks were a good size and wondering around too. The island is privately owned and farmed, with herds of cattle grazing in big fields.

We enjoyed our fresh sashimi fish for a late lunch and then a fish curry for supper.

Benji was very brave while Tim fished

Passing the big hole in the wall

So many arches

Mercury island

The boil up of fish

We chased the fish around so that Tim could catch one

The birds are loving it

All sorts of birds diving in

Benji was fascinated

Tim catches one of the fish from the boil up

Weird shapes

Pohutukawa trees in blossom

Entrance to the cove

Mercury island in relation to Whitianga

In the cove

Benji surveying the scene

Off for a walk

The cliffs at the entrance

Far end of the beach

Pohutukawa tree clinging onto the bank

We are not sure if this is a fossilised tree or a strange lava seam

Close up of the seam

The entrance, with birds everywhere

Benji loves to bury big chunks of wood

In the water is a huge flat rock with channels gouged into it, which have caught polished rounded stones

Tiring Benji out, he couldn’t be let off the lead because of the nesting birds

View of the bay from the top of the dune

Down time

Twilight colours with birds coming home

Great sunset