This week’s #frifotos* theme, waves, reminded me of New Zealand, specifically Bay of Islands, and the waves crashing into this very peculiar work of nature known as Hole in the Rock, or Motukōkak in the Maori language. Over time, waves have hacked away at the rock, creating this hole, a whopping 18 metres at sea level.
The girls and I spent a few days in the Bay of Islands when we lived in New Zealand and being on the water was always a highlight. If weather conditions are right, you can navigate right through the hole. They weren’t during our visit, but we did get pretty close. And we saw dolphins. Which, for kids, is even better than sailing through a hole.
Have you been in the Bay of Islands? Sailed through the Hole in the Rock?
World at a Glance is a series here on Sophie’s World, portraying curious, evocative, happy, sad, wondrous, unexpected little encounters.
*#FriFotos is a weekly Twitter chat where travellers share their favourite photos. Each week has a different theme.
We didn’t do this sail but LOVED Bay of Islands
So did we. And a British girl we met, who had begun her round-the-world trip in the Bay of Islands and was still there, 5 years later.
It’s amazing what waves can do. It’d be nice to sail through the Hole in the Rock.
Fun, and just a wee bit frightening.
I’ve seen a lot of rocks with holes around the world, but only tried to sail through the one in Capri. Pretty scary that was, so I wish there had been dolphins instead.
Is that the one called the tunnel of love? That’s smaller, I think, so must be even more spine-tingling.
I loved the Bay of Islands, and the 35 Degrees Restaurant out over the water. Also the ferry trip we made across the bay to Russell. Can’t recommend it enough to those who havn’t been. Didn’t sail through that hole, though.
We stayed in Russell and loved it.
I love seeing pictures like these. It’s incredible what can be done with water and time.
Very powerful, Mother Nature is.
I haven’t sailed through any, but there is a similar one in north Oahu in Hawaii where the pounding of the waves are so fierce that it cut a hole through one of the small rock islands off shore. Now the waves as it crashes through the hole makes a howling sound so eerie that it can bring chills. A truly evocative place.
That sounds wonderful, Sherry. Nature’s music…
I haven’t made it but Jade has. We saw something similar in Tonga
Yes, Tonga does have similar nature, with the blow holes and all.
That looks like a beautiful sail, but it would definitely make me a bit nervous – whoever’s steering the boat would have to be really, really good at it.
Yeah, don’t think I would dare try on my own.
The Bay of Islands is somewhere I have wanted to go for ages. Can’t wait to get there one day. I hear it is amazing.
One of the highlights of the North Island. But then, there are many…
This area looks to be both charming and magnificent! I hope we make it that far north – we’re in Whangarei in a couple of weeks and plan to do a driving tour to the Bay of Islands – now you’ve got me thinking we should head even further north!
Whangarei is near 🙂
New Zealand is such a famous and beautiful travel destination. Its amazing and great attraction place Bay of Islands. I like this view hole in the rock.
Glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by.
Done the boat trip to the hole in the rock in NZ – it’s choice bro! Bay of Islands is one of my favourite areas of NZ as well