South Minerva Reef Aerial View

Minerva Reefs are a popular stopover on the passage from New Zealand to Tonga.  They are about 600 miles from New Zealand and 250 miles from Tonga.   A week-long passage is split up into two shorter passages with a break in-between.

Minerva Reefs - North & South 2019

Minerva Reefs are one of our all-time favorite places.  They are two submerged atolls hundreds of miles away from anywhere.  The only way to visit them is on a private yacht.  

Drone photo of Minerva South "West Lagoon"

Goodbye New Zealand...for now

We were among about 8 boats waiting at Town Basin Marina for a good weather window to leave for the tropics.

The last group of cruisers departing Whangarei for the islands.

2019 Passage From New Zealand to Minerva Reefs

We untied our lines at 10 AM on June 13.  It was a beautiful sunny day and as we went down the Marsden Cove marina channel the Whangarei heads were straight ahead, with a layer of misty clouds passing over them. 

It's easy to see why the Maori name for New Zealand translates to: "The land of the long white cloud"