Paranormal New Zealand explores: Destruction Gully

Carrying on with our ongoing field research into the infamous ”Coast of Ghosts”, named by former Waitakere City mayor Bob Harvey who, after his own experiences there and the level of tragedy the region has seen through the centuries.
Many say the area of the tragedy feels heavy and emotional. Much sadness, fear and uncontrollable despair are felt in certain areas. Many believe spirits continue to roam the coast in large numbers.
We’ve spent many visits at Whatipu so far, so for this one, we wanted to head a little further along the coast to a piece of the coastline called Destruction Gully.
It was down there in that gully that back in 1863, many of the dead washed up after the Orpheus disaster. On 7th February 1863 when the Royal Naval Corvette, the HMS Orpheus, 68.8 metres in length and launched in 1860, was wrecked on the Manukau Bar. This is to date New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster with 189 men out of 270 crew and passengers being unaccounted for.
The vessel was a fully-rigged, three-masted ship, that was also powered by two steam engines.
The Orpheus left Sydney, Australia on 31 January 1863, but being pressed for time, the Captain decided to take the vessel into the Manukau Harbour. Here the vessel struck the northern end of the Middle Bank at 1.20 pm on 7th February 1863.
Over the next four hours, the ship began to break up as it was battered by large waves formed by the force of the outgoing tide. Despite a rescue attempt 189 officers and men, including Commodore Burnett, were unaccounted for out of a complement of 270. Over the following weeks, bodies washed up all along the surrounding coastline. Some were taken away, while others were buried where they lay.
The HMS Orpheus was not the first or the last ship to be wrecked on the Manukau Bar. Between 1848 and 1981 eighteen ships were wrecked on the Manukau Bar with the loss of 244 lives.
We wanted to spend some time in this region to acknowledge and pay our respects to the many who had passed away.
Since that devastating event, many people have claimed to have witnessed apparitions along the coastline. Mysterious lights are also seen flitting through the dense bush at night in areas deemed unreachable. There are reports of the sounds of guttural screaming being carried along on the wind with no apparent source.
This was an overnight campout, so was part paranormal research, part respectful tribute to the departed and part adventure.
Out in the deepest and darkest wilds of West Auckland.

For more, visit www.HauntedAuckland.com