A 20-knot (22 mph, 35 kph) dash from Auckland found us at the pilot boarding point at 4:25 in the morning.  Yes, more coffee in hand.  It is a relatively small port, lying on the North island’s Bay of Plenty, dominated at the seaward end by Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano.  The port has interests in lumber, containers, general cargo and, of course, fishing.

There is a tidal ‘window’ for entering or leaving the port.  Currents can become quite strong in the harbour and approach channel and so we were assigned our time.  This had to be calculated to allow for the cargo ships entering and leaving and in fact 2 left before we entered and 2 others then followed us in later, a busy few hours for the port, tugs and pilots.

An overview of our track from Auckland to Tauranga

The approach to Tauranga, various vessels, large and small, account for the dotted track and having to alter for them. The dotted circular lines at ‘3 o’clock’ mark a no-go area. It is here that inexplicably, a container ship, the “Reina” ran at speed straight onto it, several years ago.  It took years to remove the wreck.

Tauranga harbour and our track to the berth, a turn to go starboard side alongside.

Taken from the small pier, the tug ‘haven’ and us alongside

Ahead of us, Mt. Maunganui ahead and the tree-lined promenade and beach

A view of the port; container berth to the right. The 2 tugs are assisting a cargo ship alongside and it soon began discharging its cargo of rolled steel.

Couldn’t resist taking this, a Maori warrior impresses his enemies….

No shore call for me, instead letting Thomas, his wife Linda and one-year old Lilly have a wander ashore.  Karen was off to the Waiotapu geothermal reserve.  A 25-minute drive from the port, it is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.  Hot springs, bubbling mud pools and colourful lakes, not forgetting of course, the smell of sulphur.

On her way, the surf was ‘up’, a result of some severe weather in New Zealand

A church, built in Maori style

The ‘Champagne’ pool