Tapotupotu - An Unexplored Wonderland Just Calling

Accessible by a windy metal road, around a corner the vista of Tapotupotu opens before you, enticing you and drawing you down.

One of two beaches situated on the very northern coast of the north island that has road access, Tapotupotu as been shaped by the forces of nature and is is nestled between two prominent headlands with a stream and DOC / Ngati Kuri campground at the eastern end (right hand side of the above photo). Rocky outcrops with sheer drops and very dangerous currents swirl around. In fact this is one place that I have seen a DOC sign warning that lives have been lost and the only place where I have nearly been swept out to sea.

Knowing that there are rock pools on the western end that are large as well as others that are deep, plunging down 4+ metres with straight sides, exploring here was something I meant to do all last year after I joined NatureWatch, but never got around to it.

This year I was there waiting for @pjd1 and whanau who were walking from Rerenga Wairua and the tide was out so I thought I should do a reconnaissance around the rocks while waiting. I had left my wetsuit and underwater camera at home which was a good idea, else I could have been gone for hours with the car keys. The place had not changed since the last time I was there over 10 years ago so I knew I had to return with proper gear and see what I could find.

A week later @rongoa and I did a day trip up there and oh what paradise! I had the bright idea that we would start at the large rockpool the furtherest around before the gut that can not be crossed and four hours later we got out, not becasue we had finished there, but because the tide was on it's way in.

This rock pool cuts off from the ocean approx 1 1/2 hours after the high and it is at least 10m x 10m. In the main area the depth ranges from shallow to about 2m but in one corner there is a round straight drop, going about 4m down. A very different habitat from Otaipango, Henderson Bay as this one has large boulders strewn around, probably having been broken off the cliffs towering above.

Below are a few finds showcasing the diversity in this one pool that has not been fully explored. Needless to say, I will be doing more explorations there as I can fit it into my busy schedule :)

Posted on January 15, 2017 04:33 AM by tangatawhenua