Whangarei Heads to Waipu area

Monday 8th March

Reotahi Bay, then Marsden Point to near Waipu Cove - 32.8 km - 50 mins plus 5.75 hours

A split day - first an early morning walk from the motel, down to Little Munro Bay, then around the point to Reotahi Bay, with the ever present Marsden Point oil refinery just across the harbour. Then a drive around the harbour through Whangarei and out to Marsden Point.

Walking started along the south side of the harbour, under the jetty and pipes for unloading oil from the tanker ships, and then it turned into the Bream Bay beach, heading SW down to Ruakura. Being a highish tide, with a real river to be crossed, it was then a road deviation out to the main road past the town, along that and some, before heading back past the motor camp to the beach again.

Then another hour on the beach, before heading inland again for the roads to take me over the Waipu River. A flat and dry area, but views back to the Whangarei Heads where I was yesterday, and onto the Brynderwyn Hills where I will be tomorrow. Tried to rejoin the estuary section (low tide route) for the last few kms, but the tide was still too high.