After weeks of planning we finally left Auckland to head South at the beginning of April. My blogging has been slow to start primarily because of a few early hiccups that derailed my intentions. We meandered down the West coast stopping off along the way to visit friends. During a brief stop in Patea we discovered Manu Bay which proved a little more interesting than the initial waves pounding the breakwater wall that attracted us.
Almost 100 years ago the SS Waitangi, a steamer owned by the Patea Co-operative Freezing Company ran aground as it tried to cross the bar into the port of Patea. She hit the rocks and the mouth of the Patea River gashing large holes in her hull. We learned about the wreck thanks to a tip from a local resident, as it’s not visible while standing facing the bay. For many years nothing was visible as the wind and sea had whipped the sand up and over the hull. She only became visible in 2020.
A short walk over the sand dunes and clambering over mounds of broken logs and drift wood, the hull of the ship now sits quite visible above the water line. Today it’s pretty broken, very rusty and as the tides pound the metal, more and more of the hull is eaten away. While on the land side the winds whip the sand and wood into greater piles against the hull.
As I observed the waves on the incoming tide I thought of the sailors who wouldn’t have stood a chance to keep their vessel upright. Much of the vessel was salvaged and some of the timber from the mast and railings was used elsewhere on building sites in Patea.
Today, its the brown and red of the rusty hull that attracts people like us to photograph it and the odd seagull who comes in to land on the railings.
Sounds like you are having an interesting trip on the road. I do like the old wreck images and agree the sailors would not have had a chance. I grew up in Wanganui and the west coast can be pretty ruthless.
All good so far Vivianne. I didn’t realise you grew up in Wanganui – another nice place to visit and stay.
What a fabulous adventure Moira – love the photos & all the history. I would love to do something like that
Thanks Kirsty. Enjoying our inaugural adventure so far!!! Can recommend it though – you should try it in Australia, or some to the South Island and do it!!
I didn’t know all that so I have learnt something. Thanks
Thanks Marg. We didn’t either so found it fascinating hearing about it from the local resident, and then discovering it.
What an amazing trip.
So far Nevis must be the highlight .
Some stunning pictures.
Getting MOTI was the best thing ever.
No doubt you will discover a lot more in time to come. Not the tourist locations but Aotearoa at its finest and its soul.
Absolutely Hobbe. We live in a beautiful country and discovering some of the ‘off the beaten track’ areas is a delight.