The Cream Trip: A Day in the Bay by Boat

Spent the day today out on a boat tour called "The Cream Trip". Historically, this route was done to drop off and pick up supplies, mail, milk etcetra to farmers living out on the islands of the bay. Today it still drops off supplies, newspapers and mail to some of the holiday homes of the wealthy who vacation out on the islands (with caretakers running the properties). It was a nice day with non-stop stunning views of the islands, rocks, birds etc. Saw some gannets diving down into the water for fish. We saw dolphins and stopped to watch them for a bit. I had paid extra for swimming with dolphins (if a pod was found) but we weren't allowed to go in as they had babies with them. (Got a refund at end of day as couldn't get in water with them.) All in all, I am glad to have done the dolphin swim in Akaroa as it was with a small group of people and just a tiny catamaran.



Yesterday the same trip saw whales but we weren't so lucky today. The boat, however, was able to go through the Hole in the Rock (sometimes the weather and the tides don't allow for it).


When you come out of the hole on the other side and look back at the island from a certain viewpoint you can see what they call "The Polypenessian Princess". Along the right edge near the top you can make out what looks like the profile of a woman's face and it looks like she is reclining on the rocks.
See if you can see it...


The boat stopped in Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island for an hour and a half for lunch. This is the bay where the American writer Zane Grey used to come fishing. I had brought some cheese, pepperoni and almonds with me in my backpack so just bought a glass of, what else, savvie at the bar and then set up my towel on the beach and just relaxed and enjoyed the lovely bay.

Something I learned today was that beaches in New Zealand are public property. Private property begins twenty metres past the spring high tide mark. So even some of the big houses we saw today owned by wealthy people that have gorgeous sandy beaches in front of them can be used by anyone. As long as you have a boat to pull up with, you can access the beach or the person's wharf.

(Sassy the motel cat has just come in to my room and jumped up in my lap. She says hello.)

The boat returned back to Paihia harbour about seven hours later. A lovely day. But being in the sun all day (I sat up top in the open) is tiring so just picked up some lamb korma and rice to heat up in my room and will likely zonk out early tonight. Tomorrow I plan to go to the treaty grounds and go for a long walk. Get my land legs working again after a day at sea.