AT YFANWEN WALKS This view is of Whangamumu, which is one of our favourite walking destinations and accessible only on foot or by sea.
There are so many activities for which Okiato is central; it is entirely possible to have a fully serviced, active, car-less holiday. The proximity to the ferry makes the Opua shops and walks to Paihia and Waitangi accessible on foot.  Yfanwen has a well-formed track providing a 25 minute walk up to Aucks Road, where it joins the new Okiato to Russell walkway, now complete from Okiato to Orongo Bay (about 60% of the walking-time to Russell). Pipiroa Bay beach is accessible from Yfanwen without wading from about 2 hours after high tide until 1 1/2 hours before the next high tide - an 8 1/2 hour window. The ferry is about ten minutes walk from the house using the beach. Full details of walks are to be found at The Department of Conservation website for the area. We have two favourites. One is the coastal walk beside the Veronica Channel from Opua to Paihia and Waitangi. It takes about 1 1/2 hours from Opua and we use it if we need to go into Paihia for something we can't do in Opua or Russell. It is in view of the sea all the way and clambers through bush. It is well maintained and the canopy is good protection against the hot sun in summer. It is in view of Yfanwen's verandar all the way, on the opposite side of the channel.
Our other favourite is the track to Whangamumu (pictured). For this we drive to Rawhiti, on the eastern limits of the Bay of Islands, park and walk along a well maintained track over the hills to the Pacific side of the coastline. There are the remains of a whaling station and marvelous stretches of sandy beach, shaded by old pohutukawa trees. It is an excellent picnic spot; being without vehicle access we can always find room to ourselves. It is also an excellent overnight anchorage for boaties.
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