Matakana Extravaganza

4th June 2009.
Today I had Hayden and Cameron from Tauranga and Paul and Azamia from Austria for our Matakana Extravaganza Tour. WE meet at Pilot Bay at 9am and after our safety briefing and a short lesson on paddling technique we were off, paddling over to Matakana Island. The day was perfect with very little wind producing very glassy calm water conditions. We took our time and I informed our friends from Austria a little bit about the local history and culture of our beautiful city. As mentioned the water conditions were perfect and we were able to see plenty of piper and kahawai swimming in the shallows.

Janie was there as always to great us on our arrival at the island and she soon had them loaded in her van and off they went for their horse trek adventure. As I do most times I got back on the water and headed up the harbour to look for more wild life. I am glad I did as it wasn't long before I came across dozens upon dozens of stingrays. I was letting the tide take me right over groups of three or four sunning themselves in the shallows while at the same time witnessing another three or four gliding through the water towards me. At the same time there were dozens of fish swimming underneath me as well.

When Janie returned I offered them the opportunity to experience the stingrays. I was uncertain if there would be as many as the tide had come in but we soon came across them. Not as many as before but definitely enough to have an amazing encounter. It was soon time to head back so off we went.