Kayaking with Whales

Just 1 km from the kayak base

“I can’t believe I did that” said Michael

From the Waihekean News 1986

How often do they swim along side Waiheke’s coastline ?

Could it be the same pod as was seen with Freeman’s Bay Primary last week?

Where are they going to now ? , These were some of the questions I asked myself during October when having another thrilling encounter with Orca.

But this was special, much more special than you could ever dream about.

It was a Thursday and Waiheke went about its own business as like any other day, and it seemed all were to busy or simply to relaxed to know what could be seen this winters day.

I was helping a friend, moving furniture, Their house looked over a corner of Palm beach,

Look ! said my friend there are some whales coming into the bay. But then another come in and another. A pod of Orca were swiming down the coast. By this time I had made a decision.

Just a few weeks earlier I had made a promise to my five year old son that If I saw Willy’s .........

I would come and show him that they really do exist around Waiheke.

Knowing they were heading along the coast north and with no time to waste, I quickly drove to school.. 11 00 am I asked Mrs Brown his teacher could I take Michael out just for an hour to see some killer Whales. She looked a little puzzled and showed some concern. (kinda like just don’t do anything stupid) Quickly I drove home and picked up Karen, Michael’s mum.

First we drove over to Palm beach again but without any sighting. Heading towards Hekerua Bay and looking over towards Peninsula Estate I stopped the car and simple waited. I knew they just had to be somewhere, Karen spotted one first, just the fin for a split second. Then it was easy, at least seven Orca where moving around on the out side area of Oneroa Bay. It was maybe 30 minutes before they decided to move along the coast and head north around Peninsular Estate. Offcourse I drove to other various lookout points and literally followed these creatures. They swam past area’s I have been kayaking for many years, sometimes just 20 metres from the rocks that I know so well through running a kayak business from Matiatia.

Well, they obviously were following the coast, in fact the young ones going right into Fossil Bay , , and it seemed nothing, absolutely nothing was going to change where they were off too. I just knew they were on their way to Matiatia, I couldn’t really stay on the land any longer so quickly pulled a 21 foot, 3 seater kayak out of the shed.

We paddled out round the corner, and man! 3 big fins were coming straight at us. There was no reason to paddle, we stopped, simply glided and pushed left rudder to put the boat side on to these creatures showing interest in us.

They disappeared about 20 metres from us and I sat motionless waiting to see what was going to happen.

One whale went smoothly under the kayak as clear as a bell, the other swam along side and showed off it’s white belly while the other was somewhere. I turned just as it literally had floated vertically like a sub, the nose on the surface looking our way. I jelled out with surprise and somewhat a bit shaken, This guy blew its blow hole clear of which I felt spray on the back of my neck.

The show had just begun and we had the best seats in town. The big daddy must have been 10 feet longer than us and the dorsal fin stuck out higher than myself seated in the kayak.

The young ones actually swam into Matiatia harbour. We paddled to the other side to connect with them when they were swimming out of the harbour.

Like a dream coming true the whales decided to perform, jumping out of the water, making big splashes on their backs. Thrashing their tails on the surface and enjoying what ever young whales enjoy. Infact they reminded me of puppy dogs behaviour that seemed very excited and alittle naughty.

We left them after at least 45 minutes of pure excitement that maybe you get seeing elephants in Africa or flying a fighter jet.

Driving home full of adrenaline, this feeling of sharing an awesome experience cannot be replaced, and set a powerful emotion for all three of us that is difficult to describe.

Where else can one take a kid from school and paddle with whale’s in just couple of hours.

Buzzing Michael sat down in the lounge at 2 30 am. Decided to watch the “Wolves of the Sea” with David Edinbourogh.

And said “I can’t believe I did that”