Urupukapuka
Island, Bay of Islands
Sightseeing,
Tours, Attractions and Events in the Bay of Islands
Hotels
and Accommodation in the Bay of Islands
Tiki
Touring catches up with dolphins
More
Dolphin Pictures
By
Richard Moore
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BAY
OF ISLANDS
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Urupukapuka
Island is the largest off-shore land mass in the Bay of
Islands and is a wonderful spot to take a break from boating
around on the water.
It
is one of the only islands in the area where you can camp
and there are shower/toilet facilities.
Urupukapuka
Island is 208 hectares, or 520 acres, and the main landing
point is a wharf in the quiet and lovely Otehei Bay.
Once
off the boat you can head off for a swim, food and drink,
a relax, or take half an hour or so and head out on the
Nautilus Subsea Adventure to see fish feeding on a man-made
reef.
The
Nautilus is a specially designed vessel that you clamber
down into for an underwater view of the surrounds. There
are plenty of seats and windows and it is in no-way a sealed-in
submarine that will send shock waves through claustrophobics.
It
is a very gentle journey out to the reef and the Nautilus
only heads out when viewing is reasonably good.
The
crew states this is not a journey to the the Great Barrier
Reef - the fish are not tropical coloured beauties in a
forest of amazing hues - but "you'll see the many varieties
of fish and other marine life that inhabit the underwater
world of the Bay of Islands. Commonly seen species include
eagle rays, snapper, trevally, kingfish, spotty and sea
urchins".
And you do. I must say watching all those big, fat snapper
swimming around having a feed made me think of donning a
mask and fins and popping out to do a bit of spearfishing
for supper.
There
are heaps of fish - courtesy of well-timed sploshes with
a feeding bucket - and it is quite a sight. The kids will
love being so close to the creatures.
Actually
while I'm firing off a few spear shafts at the fishies I
should take a cloth out and wipe down the Nautilus' windows
on the outside. They were very spotty and had sea growth
waving around their edges.
Urupukapuka's
Otehei Bay is lovely and so enjoy your stay.
