Six people from our tramping club, drove 1 ½ hours to Port Albert, on the edge of the Kaipara harbour, north of Auckland. We started embarking the vessel Kewpie Too at 10:30 am and at 11 am we left the Wharf to travel down the  Oruawharo river, out past Tapora into the harbour, before turning to enter up the Otamatea river, and up to the old Batley Hotel, now privately owned. The Captain gave a very clear picture of early and later history of the Kaipara. The short sharp squall’s were over in the first 1½ hours, and we were left with a pleasant sunny trip. We disembarked at 4:30 pm to make the journey back to Auckland. COST: boat fare $35