Rakino

Out on the gulf on Sunday to visit Rakino. This trip was organized by the Auckland Historical Society. About 30 of us headed out on rather a small boat which rocked from side to side whenever anything larger or faster moved past it, scaring me no end. There was a classic yacht regatta, lovely big yachts with elaborate sails, some of them coming very close to us. Our skipper gave us lots of information about these boats and also the big boats moored at the Viaduct Basin, including Michael Hill's. Out past Brown's Island, Rangiato, then the length of Motutapu, then further on west of Waiheke to Rakino, first to Home Bay, then on to Sandy Bay for our short spell on land, just time to walk over to Home Bay where there is an old homestead and tiny church. There seemed to be very few houses. They say there is no electricity. Read Shirley Maddock's chapter on the island. She was there when there was a guest house, an alternative community and a few locals. Chugged back to the mainland doing a tour of the viaduct past the yachts which had returned from the day's racing for the prizegiving.

The top photo is at Home Bay, Rakino where Sir George Grey had a house built, this is the house you see in the picture. He started it, but did not finish it. He probably planted the trees too. The next one is in front of the boat that took us to Rakino - Riverhead Cruises. They also do a lot of other interesting ones which we may go on - one up the Waihou River from Thames to Paeroa.

The others are out on the gulf with the yachts, one of a little island just off Sandy Bay, Rakino, the last one is of Home Bay from the distance.