Sullivan’s Bay to Motuketekete Island

Park up in Mahurangi West Regional park where there are good public toilets available but no shops for any provisions, make sure you bring all you need with you. A trolley is handy but not essential, beach access from the car park is easy. Head east from Sullivan’s Bay Beach to the northern end of Te Haupa Island (Saddle Island) there is a reef that stretches north from the island but plenty of space to pass through it even at low tide. Continue east to the southern end of Motuora Island and paddle up the more interesting east coast of the island.  There is a good beach about 1/3 of the way up for a coffee / snack stop.  

From the north end of Motuora head north across to the rocky islets at the south west end of Motutara island, you can paddle between the rocky islets and Motutara but at lower tides you may struggle to get past the shallow area at the west end.  Paddle clockwise around Motutara Island which at the lower half of the tide is connected to Moturekareka Island.  The beach connecting the two islands is a decent place to stop for refreshments.

Continue along the West/North coast of Moturekareka visiting the shipwreck before passing to the south of Motuketekete Island and enjoying the rock gardening along its East coast.

Once around Motuketekete Island head south to enjoy the southern coastline of Moturekareka Island.  Once done with that, if the tide is high enough pass to the northern side of Motutara Island and continue westward before heading back west across to Sullivan’s Bay Beach and your car.

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Thanks to Steve Cooper, president of the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK), for providing the details and photos of this journey! KASK is an excellent organisation that represents sea kayakers in New Zeland and whose volunteers provide safety training courses for free around the country each year. Consider joining to help support other kiwis who love kayaking!