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be there.
ANCHORAGES
Otehei Bay is an enclosed bay offering good holding in all
winds. Vessels of more than 1.4m draft must take care at the
entrance to the bay at low tide; once inside the Bay the depth is
3.3m at all tides.
Nearby Paradise Bay and Cable Bay also offer good holding and
are sheltered in northerly and easterly winds. Each is a short
tender trip around to Otehei Bay.
Urupukapuka Bay has good holding and is sheltered in all but
southeast winds. It is a 15-minute walk over the hill to Otehei Bay.CAMPING
Urupukapuka Island offers some of the best self-guided walks
in the Bay of Islands, with tracks ranging in duration from 1-5
hours with varying degrees of difficulty. Guests can revel in the
native flora and fauna, appreciating the work of Project Island
Song and taking in the spectacular views. The island track can
be started in Otehei Bay or walk to Otehei from any of the
anchorages around the island.FERRY
Explore offers a ferry service over summer departing every two
hours between Otehei Bay, Paihia and Russell. Great for day
trippers and campers to get to the island but also great for getting
guests to or from the cruising grounds of the Bay of Islands
without needing to visit the busy commercial wharf at Paihia or
Russell. Book online or phone 0800 EXPLORE, $45 return.HISTORY
Zane Grey, a celebrated American author, sportsman and
conservationist, travelled to New Zealand in 1926 and 1927 and set
up a base at Otehei Bay and put Bay of Islands big-game fishing
on the international map. Grey authored over 90 books, mainly
westerns, many of which became bestsellers and were made into
movies. Tales of the Angler’s El Dorado, New Zealand detailed Grey’s
fishing exploits here. In 1927 he built a lodge at Otehei Bay, and
Urupukapuka Island became a magnet for the rich and famous.
Grey fished in New Zealand for many years and his articles in
international sporting magazines highlighted the uniqueness of
New Zealand fishing, which has produced heavy-tackle world
records for the major billfish: striped marlin, black marlin, blue
marlin and broadbill swordfish.Explore Group New Zealand
0800 397 567
+64 9 359 5987
[email protected]
http://www.exploregroup.co.nz
http://www.oteheibay.co.nz