We needed a change of scenery so decided on a day trip to Omaha to look at the anchorages along the coast. Straight down the N1 and a left turn at Wellsford. We discovered that there was a road to Mangawhai Heads between Wellsford and Leigh which was not marked on our map but meant we could return avoiding most of the N1. At Pakiri we made a slight diversion to the beach, it was on a gravel road but the car is quite accustomed to them now. It was worth the detour a beautiful beach and huge expanse of sand. We passed a lovely post box that I would have loved for my collection, it was shaped like a dog kennel with a huge dog sprawled on top. Unfortunately there was a car on our tail and nowhere to stop, so no photo. Next stop Goat Island, it is a Marine Reserve and has a research station run by Auckland Uni. It was closed to visitors and do not know if that was due to Covid (Auckland still on Level 2.5) or because it was Sunday. There are a variety of interesting fish which you are supposed to be able to see from the rocky platforms along the beach, but sea surface was rather disturbed so would not have been able to take photos even if I had seen any. There is usually a glass bottom boat there for trips but it was not running and I thought it far too cold for snorkelling. I walked up towards Cape Rodney, there were some nice views but I had not brought my walking poles and I needed them as a spare leg and brake as it was quite steep and the gravel was rather slippery, I turned back and slipped a few times but managed to stay on my feet by grabbing a tree or throwing myself at the fence. Leigh was mainly a fishing community, I had expected a quaint village so was rather disappointed but this was well and truly made up for by Leigh Harbour, it was very pretty and rather like a Cornish Creek. Chris spoke to one of the fishermen who said the holding was good and it was well protected in all but a south easterly. Behind the harbour were some lovely lilies, I was tempted to pick some but it would have entailed wading through some foul smelling mud and I don't think Chris would have let me back in the car. From Leigh we went to Omaha, a huge windy housing estate that did not appear to offer any facilities (shops, doctors or schools). The beach was vast and rather exposed, it looked as if it would have been shallow for a long way out. Not really a good anchorage for a keel boat, so not added to our list of places to visit by boat.
It had been a long drive so we set off for Marsden returning via Matakana Valley and Mangawhai Heads.
Chris was very tired, had a cup of tea and has gone to bed without eating.