Tiritiri Matangi Island sits an hour’s sail away from Gulf Harbour. Two years ago we attempted to anchor at Hobbs Beach, but on a beautiful, sunny summer’s day, the bay had been crowded with other boats and after a couple of attempts at close proximity anchoring, which was not a comfortable experience for anyone involved, we meandered out of the bay area and floated off the island for a bit while we gathered ourselves to work out what to do next. Decision made, we headed over to Shakespeare Beach (Whangaparaoa Peninsula) for fun and frivolity; the kids spent the afternoon squealing and laughing as they dove from the bow into the blue depths below.
But March 12 was like a day of new-found freedom: no work and
