Kaimaumau is an “off the radar” settlement on the west side of Rangaunu Harbour, a large mangrove-fringed estuary in Northland. In summer, we stay at Sue’s family bach. We get up before sunrise and drive down an unsealed road to the roadend, then walk up the beach to the harbour entrance. The beach gradually curves to the west and becomes Ngarui-o-te-Marangai, also known as East Beach, which stretches 14 km or so to the next harbour. On fine mornings, the sun peeps up above the low eastern hills and lights up the sky with brilliant red and orange colours before dazzling us with its full brightness.
Along the way, we sometimes see a pod of dolphins; eagle rays in the shallows; flocks of gulls, terns or godwits, or single dotterels busily sorting through the seaweed. We stop after about 40 minutes, Sue does a few cartwheels and hand-stands, and then we return. Back at the roadend we have a swim and then head back to the bach for breakfast.
A pod of dolphins entering the harbour.
An eagle ray in the shallows.
Dolphins body-surfing off East Beach.
In case you hadn’t noticed by now, I love beach sand patterns.
Beach debris.
Bright blue fluorescing Sapphirina copepods, and (on the right) salps.
Godwits yearning to fly back to Siberia.
