Anchor Bay cove

Tawharanui peninsula forms the northern edge to the channel into Kawau Bay from the Hauraki Gulf. The southern edge is the northwestern end of Kawau Island. We can see the peninsula across the bay from the beachhouse and beyond it is Hauturu (Little Barrier Island), which is a bird sanctuary. Visiting Hauturu is strictly controlled and limited.

Maori have dwelt in this area for more than 800 years, and until the 1870s the area which now forms the Regional Park was occupied by a small subtribe of the Te Kawerau iwi; the Ngati Raupo. After the 1870s, Tawharanui was developed for farming by three Pakeha families. Kauri trees were milled and there are few trees remaining. Almost 100 years later the Auckland Regional Council purchased what is now the Tawharanui Regional Park.

Since the early 1980s, our family have been intermittent visitors to this park, in order to enjoy a (relatively) safe surf beach. From the carpark at the end of a winding road, it is a short walk up a hill and then down to Anchor Bay (Waikokowai is the original name given by Maori). My first extra is the view across the bay to Hauturu in the Hauraki Gulf. The second extra is of a wee cove separated from the major part of the bay by Flat Rock, and which is over a small hill to the east. And that is where we always went for space and quiet, as most people spread along the long beach to the west. My second extra shows the big tree our children played on.

Today we started our visit by taking a short loop walk into the nature reserve. This was created in 2004 with the construction of a 2.5 km pest-proof fence. It is an open sanctuary which depends on visitors being responsible; shutting gates, not bringing dogs, not hassling the nesting birds, and so on. We heard a multitude of birds in the regenerating bush, and caught glimpses of tui, kakariki, water birds, and more than glimpses of the prolific pukeko.

When we returned to the cove, we swam in the surf on an incoming tide. After a little hesitancy the youngsters began to gain confidence and enjoyment, at which stage I got this photo with the telephoto lens from afar; I had left the water by then.

A wonderful summer day.