Hi David,
I am back. I haven’t done the circumnavigation because on the first day when I arrived in the early afternoon the NW wind was so strong I didn’t dare to make the crossing and stayed instead at the campground of Heriot Bay inn (OK but not great). This left me short of one day. Next morning all was calm and I crossed to Read island east campsite. Later in the afternoon a commercial Wildcoast group of 10! arrived to spend the night at the same campsite which is not that big :(….. Fearing that other campsites will be full as well I stayed there for the next two nights and did day trips from there. I later discovered that there was a nice site for 1 full tent + 1 tiny tent just one bay over to the east. It does not have the signs of overuse by large groups and the beach is steeper there albeit the same 8″ coble stones.
Next three nights I spent car-camping in the lovely campground We Wai Kai on Rebecca spit. It is very well run and convenient for paddling, their brand new loop of campsites #151 and higher is right above the beach on the outer side of the Spit. We did a nice bumpy paddle with Allan one evening. The strong NW afternoon winds seem to be the norm there. Humpbacks everywhere.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q7eE3wn5N1SVWgB78
Sarka