Kayaking into “The Donut Hole” from Whangamata

NZ Update #5, Kayaking into “The Donut Hole” from Whangamata

Sunday, April 28

Early sunrise at Whangamata

The Donut Hole Island, from the beach

Bobbie's family bach, from the beach

Thanks to the hospitality of our landlord Bobbie, Mike and I spent a lovely three days at her family’s bach on the Coromandel Peninsula, on the east coast of the North Island, NZ.  We thought it was pronounced Wang-a-MAT-a, but we were so wrong. 

It’s Fahng-a-ma-TA.

Bobbie’s family’s bach is as close to the beach as can be--right behind the sand dunes by the beach.

Bright highlights were the surf, the sunrises, and kayaking. We also hiked the Two Women looking for Kaka.

The magical “Donut”

The second day, we rented kayaks and paddled out into the surf and tides of Whagamata bay. The “Donut” is a hollow island out in the bay. It is a collapsed volcanic tube, with a beautiful round bay inside, open to the sky. You  paddle into it through a tunnel in the stone cliffs, balancing surf swells and the tunnel opening. Once Mike and I paddled thru the tunnel into the secret bay, we had it all to ourselves (yay for off-season touristing). The secret bay has other small caves on the sides, more small tunnels to the outside sea and sky, and tides just like the mainland shore. It is a magical place. 

Inside, looking at the entry tunnel,
after we gulped and rode the waves into the interior through the tunnel

One of the other tunnels to the outside

Mike by another interior cave

Mike inside ANOTHER internal cave

We stayed for hours at the Donut Hole, exploring, having lunch, and watching the tide rise, and rise, and rise. It was a magical time.
(We were especially lucky that we were there in the fall, after the summer season was over. Sometimes it is pretty crowded, with dozens of kayaks drawn up on the beach, and people clambering all over. but Mike and I had it all to ourselves.)

The extraordinary sunrises continued, and LS went wild photographing them.

Here we looked EAST at a sunset--no kidding.
The sunset light is reflecting off the eastern clouds.

Final Whangamata photo:
the bay after the sun was pretty much risen.

Mike, inside the Donut Hole