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Freelance writer + photographer | Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Kayaking the Kerikeri Inlet

14 February, 2016

A great way to explore Kerikeri is by kayak, on the Kerikeri Inlet – and it looks very different from the water than from the land!

Kayaking is a great way to explore the Kerikeri Inlet.
Kayaking is a great way to explore the Kerikeri Inlet.

We launched our kayaks at Waipapa Landing – this is a good all-tide launching spot, with a concrete boat ramp, plenty of parking and also a toilet block.

Map of Waipapa Landing boat ramp:

The pin below shows the location of the boat ramp at Waipapa Landing (click on the map to zoom in/out, move it around, etc.):

From Waipapa Landing boat ramp, we paddled round to the Stone Store – it took about an hour to get there.

It took us an hour to paddle from the Waipapa Landing boat ramp to the Stone Store. (And another hour to paddle back.)
It took us an hour to paddle from the Waipapa Landing boat ramp to the Stone Store. (And another hour to paddle back.)

If we’d had more time (and our wallets with us), it would have been nice to stop at the Pear Tree Cafe for some refreshments before heading back. The cafe is right next to the Kerikeri Inlet. We’ll have to do that another day!

Hint: even at all-tide launching spots, it’s a good idea to leave close to high tide if possible. For the simple reason that the Kerikeri Inlet looks a lot prettier when filled with water… otherwise it’s a bit of a mud hole!

Note: there are other places to launch kayaks on the Kerikeri Inlet too. I’ll add those in the future, as I discover them. 🙂

Important things to know before you kayak on the Kerikeri Inlet:

Kayaks

There are no kayak rental places in Kerikeri, as far as I’m aware. So you need to bring your own kayak. I guess you could rent a kayak in Paihia and bring it over in your vehicle, if it will fit.

Geography and weather

The Kerikeri Inlet is where various streams and rivers meet the sea. The “sea” part of this means that it’s tidal. And the “river” part means that the water is greeny-brown. (Do not expect clear blue water, you will be very disappointed!)

Check the marine weather forecast for wind and tide before you leave. Even though the Kerikeri Inlet is relatively sheltered, the wind can still get up and make the paddling less fun. Here’s the marine forecast for the Bay of Islands.

Traffic on the water

Numerous boats are moored on pile moorings on the Kerikeri Inlet. So, be prepared for boat traffic. Boats will need to use the deepest part of the channel, so if you stick to the sides you’ll be fine. The sides are more interesting anyway, as that’s where you’ll find mangroves, birds and other wildlife.

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Related posts:

The Kerikeri Saturday market is one of my ‘Must Dos’ in Kerikeri – enjoy fresh, seasonal produce and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.Kerikeri Saturday market at the Old Packhouse Kayaking in PaihiaKayaking in Paihia, Bay of Islands Sailing at Kerikeri Cruising Club If you're lucky, you might have Taronui Beach all to yourselves, like we did when we visited.Kerikeri beaches: where are they?

Filed Under: All, Explore, Kerikeri

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Related posts:

The Kerikeri Saturday market is one of my ‘Must Dos’ in Kerikeri – enjoy fresh, seasonal produce and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.Kerikeri Saturday market at the Old Packhouse Kayaking in PaihiaKayaking in Paihia, Bay of Islands Sailing at Kerikeri Cruising Club If you're lucky, you might have Taronui Beach all to yourselves, like we did when we visited.Kerikeri beaches: where are they?

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