Kayaking from Marahau Monday-January 6, 2014

MONDAY – JANUARY 6, 2014

BOTTOM LINE:

Van ride to Marahau for a 7 hour "Kayak from Marahau" guided round trip paddle to Adele & Fisherman Islands

BACK STORY:

We were picked up at 8:15am for a van shuttle to Marahau.  It was a gloriously clear, sunny and wind free morning…a perfect day for kayaking.

We met up with our guide Sophie who informed us that we were her only guests for the kayak trip.  Before being shuttled to the beach we were fit with life jackets and spray skirts.  Sophie handed us heavy bag lunches, and told to store them in a dry bag supplied by the company.

After paying our tour fees we were put in another van and shuttled to the beach.  The tide was very low, so the kayaks were had been placed at the water’s edge about ½ mile away.  The walk was easy and the cool puddles felt good to splash on my toes. 

We stowed our things in the center dry well of our double kayak and climbed in to adjust the foot pegs.  I sat in the back to operate the rudder, which helped to steer.  Bruce took the front seat to more easily cast his line when he wanted to fish.  Once everything was adjusted and spray skirts were secure, we left.

Because we were the only kayakers and had experience Sophie pretty much let us decide what we wanted to do and then she determined the course.

We spent about an hour kayaking out to Fisherman’s Island where we beached the kayaks.  Here Sophie sent us up a wooded hill to see where penguins borrow.  We had seen one in the water as we approached the island.  When we returned to Sophie, she had made hot mochas for us to have with a huge boysenberry muffin for morning tea-time…I was liking this already!

Our guide and barista, Sophie

  

Morning "tea" NZ style

After cleaning up we headed to Adele Island to view the New Zealand southern fur seals.  We were able to see the males sunning themselves on big granite boulders while the females attended to the pups that were getting too far away. By making a certain call, the babies came right back to their mothers.  It was so cool to watch them from their level.

After a hard paddle across the open water of Stillwater Bay we beached the kayaks for lunch while looking back at the islands that we had just visited. The sun seemed to shimmer and dance on the water.  The wait for good weather was well worth it.  This area of New Zealand is stunning!

Stillwater Bay

  

Our lunch spot

Following lunch, it was time to head back.  With a couple of stops along the way for Bruce to fish and us to stretch our legs, we were back where we started 7 hours earlier!  This time, however the tide was up and a wind was to our backs so we were able to paddle right into the beach.

Kayaking buddies

Shuttling us back to our hostel in Kaiteriteri the town was buzzing with happy lighthearted people.  It’s amazing what a change of weather can bring.

After a hot shower, we headed to the café adjacent to the hostel for a “cider” and dinner.  Bruce found a place that makes fresh fruit ice cream so with it in hand we headed down to sit at the beach…not wanting the day to end!  We weren’t alone!

As we sat watching people taking their last swim for the evening, a man walked out and put a remote controlled miniature surfer on a surfboard into the water.  It was hilarious to watch and had everyone looking at it.  There were two boys in the water that spotted it.  The man controlling it decided to have a little fun and moved it closer to them.  It totally freaked them out and they couldn’t get away fast enough!

A note about Sophie:  She is half NZ and half Egyptian/Lebanese.  Her father has a successful boating business, which takes people up and down the Nile River for vacations.  She is majoring in outdoor education and hopes to perhaps join her fathers business at some point. Maybe she will be our guide again someday!

So thankful for a fun and beautiful day!