Maitai Bay & Dukes Nose Track

Friends of the sea,

before going diving, I had 2 full days which I utilized for a little tour through the Northlands. Since I already walk enough at my job in New Zealand, it was time for some more steps. For the first day, I treated myself to a short break at Maitai Beach before heading out for my hike to Dukes Nose.

Maitai Bay is an absolute snorkeling paradise, and the water is so clear that the entire bay appears in a radiant turquoise as soon as the sun shines on it. I just zipped by briefly and took a short walk along the beach.

The bay is also guarded by the local warriors of the tribe. Very cool carvings standing slightly elevated.

After a maximum of 30 minutes, I continued south to the start of the track for Dukes Nose. A hike I chose because the view from the top is said to be a dream. Not a difficult hike, but one for which I at least brought my trekking poles again.

Before it went into the small fjords, there were 2 river crossings that tested my balance a bit, as I made a small 'without poles' challenge out of it. The last part of the hike was probably the most demanding, as it involved the most elevation gain, and the track became rockier. Additionally, at the end, there was a small climbing section to the absolute summit, which I found simply awesome and fun!

The view in the photos I saw definitely did not disappoint because it was just a DREAM! Deep blue water and the small islands and fjords in the picture. Incredible view here!

On the way back, I took a short swim in the sea at a small kind of day shelter they built here. Very convenient since it was in the shade, and I was completely alone. I also had a longer break at the peaceful river crossing before heading back to Fridolin and on to the campsite.

After there were hikes, views, and peaceful places all for myself, I decided to incorporate a significant portion of history into my tour and went to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds the next day to learn as much as possible about the Māori and their history.

Stay tuned for the next historical post,

Your Britta