Another Perfect Summers day at Whangarei Heads

Beach at Breakaway

Great for swimming 22 degrees celsius!

Dolphins at Whangarei Heads

Pods of dolphins are often seen in and around the whangarei heads Harbour.

Orca at Whangarei Heads

Fishing and Diving at Whangarei Heads

Two good eating male crayfish

Taken on scuba at the Hen and Chicks

Darren caught this 7.5lb Kahawai on a soft bait.

Good smoked or baked in the oven.

Fishing at Whangarei Heads

John Dory For Dinner!

Breakaway Retreat
Qualmark 4 Star Plus Whangarei Heads Luxury Accommodation
1856 Whangarei Heads Rd
RD4
McLeod Bay
Whangarei
New Zealand
Ph 09 4340711
Mobile 02102622457
http://www.breakawayretreat.co.nz

Human Chain for conservation at Reotahi Marine Reserve

Human Chain for conservation at Reotahi Marine Reserve

The world’s first human chain around the world’s first student-driven marine reserve was a success today.

1005 Northland students, parents’ teachers and community members formed the chain around the landward boundary of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve at Reotahi (Motukaroro) today.

The Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme, supported by the Department of Conservation, organised this event to celebrate conservation week and the reserves upcoming third anniversary.

Today saw months of planning come to fruition. We got through the day with no incidents, says EMR’s Nicki Wakefield, co-organiser and operations manager for event.
Boats marked the seaward boundary including Ingrid Vissors Orca Research and Dive Tutukaka’s ‘Perfect Day’.

Kerikeri Primary was one of 15 schools that made up the chain and travelled the longest distance. 40 Ngunguru School students had the most unique form of transport, with the journey from Tutukaka to Whangarei Harbour on board Perfect Day. Hundreds of students attended form Kamo High School, the original applicant of this reserve.

We achieved our goal today, all students, parents and community members will go home more aware of the reserve and its boundaries and a sense of pride and ownership of their marine reserve, says co-organiser and event controller Samara Nicholas.

“We had some incredible visitors to show their support for our event today, including a pod of dolphins and a seal, the Whangarei Harbour is truly a special place and worthy of this protection for future generations”

The presence of the helicopter created a lot of hype, it did take a few tries to coordinate over 1000 people to do a perfect Mexican wave, says Samara.

Schools that took part in the chain are encouraged to come back to and snorkel at the site with the EMR marine education programme. “The marine reserve is a fantastic education tool and the support for today’s event shows how interesting and valuable our marine reserves are for not just Northlanders, but all kiwis”

EMR also runs guided community snorkel days during the summer, co-organisers Samara, Kim and Nicki are past students of Kamo High School, which was responsible for the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve proposal.

“This marine reserve conserves unique marine biodiversity for the enjoyment of future generations. I am proud to have been involved in pulling off an event of this scale, it was a logistical nightmare, but our team from EMR and the support from DOC, Transfield and many other organisations made it possible” Mrs Nicholas says
“EMR works with schools and communities throughout New Zealand offering first-hand marine experiences and encouraging action for the marine environment. It's great to be a part of such a massive event that will draw attention to the boundaries of this marine reserve through a colossal amount of community teamwork and spirit” says Northland EMR coordinator and human chain co-chief organiser, Kim Boyle.

Children making their way to the reserve.

Getting ready to form the chain.

All photos supplied by Annelies Struijcken

Ocean Beach Whangarei Heads

A beautiful spring day at Ocean Beach.

Ocean Beach can be found 10 minutes from Breakaway Retreat.

View from top of sand dune.

Ocean Beach, a great place for surfing, body surfing or surf casting.

View of the chicks from Ocean Beach.

This beach is well worth a visit!

This is a great beach to take kids to. There are lots of fun things to do on the beach incling building sandcastles, climbing up on down the big sand dune, playing in the water, body surfing, kicking a ball on the beach and jumping in the rock pools.

Breakaway Retreat

Qualmark 4 Star Plus Whangarei Heads Luxury Accommodation

1856 Whangarei Heads Rd

RD4

McLeod Bay

Whangarei

New Zealand

Ph 09 4340711

Mobile 02102622457

http://www.breakawayretreat.co.nz

Kaolin Mine Whangarei Heads

Take a stroll along the beach at Breakaway Retreat

and see the Kaolin mine from the 1800's.

The steel posts are all that remains of the wharf where wooden

schooners once tied up too and transported the clay.

Steel railway tracks that once carried wagons.

The remains of the motor that once helped remove the clay


The clay face from where they mined from.

A Large Peace of Kaolin Clay

What Our Guests have been saying - Breakaway Retreat-Whangarei Heads Accommodation

Our Guests Comments October 2008 - Jan 2009


Our Guests Comments Jan 2009 - June 2009

Mark & Sheelagh Prosser

Breakaway Retreat - Qualmark 4 Star Plus Luxury Northland Accommodation

1856 Whangarei Heads Rd

McLeod Bay

Whangarei

New Zealand
Ph 09 4340711

Mobile 02102622457

www.breakawayretreat.co.nz

Whangarei Heads Pioneer Cemetery

This Whangarei Heads Cemetery is located in Big Munro Bay and can be accessed via the beach when staying at Breakaway Retreat.

This magnificent Pohutukawa is located at the base of track leading up to the cemetery. This track is only 30meters long.

Many of the early Pioneer's to the area were buried here, from 1864-1956. You will recognise these from place names in Whangarei Heads.

Looking up the beach towards the cemetery.

Breakaway Retreat - Qualmark 4 Star Plus Luxury Accommodation
1856 Whangarei Heads Rd
RD4
McLeod Bay
Whangarei
New Zealand
Ph 09 4340711
Mobile 02102622457
http://www.breakawayretreat.co.nz/

Seal in Whangarei Heads Harbour

We spotted this seal while fishing in the Whangarei harbour.

Walk to the lighthouse at Ocean Beach, Whangarei Heads

View of Ocean Beach from Light House

Looking out from Ocean Beach Light House on a beautiful winters day.

Taranga Island in the back ground and Bream Head in the foreground.

Orca's are back!

This one rolled over and looked at me in the kayak so close!

Snapper For Dinner

Paul Topper with his 10lb Snapper caught on a Soft Bait

Fishing at the Hen and Chicks

James Corric speared this 25kg Kingfish.


Also saw some Dolphins on our return home.

March Special at Breakaway Retreat

March Specials

Option 1: 10% Discount

Or

Option 2: 1 x 1hr massage by a qualified massage therapist *


Breakaway Retreat Guest House is offering the above specials for March only. Please let us know when you are making your booking for March which option you would like and quote reference: BlogMarch 09. To book on-line click here. http://www.breakawayretreat.co.nz/onlinerequest.aspx

Looking forward to seeing you at Breakaway Retreat Guest House.

* Subject to availability of the massage therapist. Massage to take place at Breakaway Retreat Guest House.

Dolphins at Peach Cove August 08

Boxing day Snapper

10lb Boxing Day snapper

Crayfish

There are plenty of Crays to be found in and around Whangarei Heads

Beautiful Spring day at Smugglers Bay

View of the Hen Island from Smugglers


Smugglers Bay

Looking down on Smugglers Bay from the walking track.

Dolphins back at Breakaway

These dolphins came right up to the boat you don't get much closer than this.