Driftwood

This morning we were out at nearby Rapahoe Beach, about 10 minutes drive from home picking up driftwood off the beach. We have been due for rain and thunderstorms (which have now started) but for a few hours the sun was trying to peek out from behind the clouds. Edited to add: for those who have asked what I am going to do with the driftwood; the smaller pieces will be kindling for the fireplace and the bigger bits will go in the garden.

The left hand side of the beach has a row of old posts leading out into the water but I'm not sure if it is the remains of an old wharf. In the end we filled up 3 shopping bags with bits and pieces of wood. Now I'm starting my week off from work today and no doubt I will get bored after 3-4 days.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

First time at Pouto

Temperatures are really starting to cool down here and places that are normally busy over Summer have now quietened down.

Mondays are normally the other half's day off so we drove out to the Pouto Peninsula which is about an hour or so from Dargaville. Now Dargaville is about an hour and a half from where we live so it's a long way to go and mostly dirt/gravel roads through forestry areas.

Pouto is at the northern end of the Kaipara Harbour, and the catchment area includes around 50 dune lakes over 1 hectare in size.

If you walk a further 7kms around the beach you can reach the Pouto Lighthouse, unfortunately the tide was too high, but where we did walk the sand was scattered with driftwood, seaweed and shells. It's probably one of the cleanest beaches I've visited in a long time.

Can't forget the obligatory Variable Oyster Catchers who roam the shores in Northland and Auckland - there also was also a fenced off area for nesting birds which was nice to see and we were pretty much the only ones there. These guys breed in pairs from September through to March but they are over 5 years old before they begin the process.  They have been a protected species since 1922.

Pouto is also a place where various historic shipwrecks are and it's known as "the graveyard". The views from the lighthouse also include a large pine forest, views of the Tasman sea and the remains of a 63,000 year old fossilized Kauri forest.  Apparently from what I've heard the fishing is fantastic and if you look at the land in the distance in this photo above it's of South Head near Helensville.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World for this one.

Omaha Beach Bird Sanctuary

Here in NZ we have lots of birds that are critically endangered. Some of them live here at Omaha Beach, a small seaside town about 40 minutes south of us. The town itself is quite elite with all sorts of rich and richer people not only living in opulent houses but lots of holiday places too. I would estimate most of the properties as being worth well over $800,000 NZD.

Anyway to get through this part of the beach we had to enter a cage like area with sliding doors that automatically shut. Although there are rocks separating the main beach from the sanctuary there is still a a fenced off section where the birds breed. I think this is a great idea as where we live we have similar endangered birds that breed and we don't have fences only taped off areas with small signs that sadly people tend to ignore this anyway.

You may be able to see the poles in this photo, these have string linking them together as this is where the birds are breeding and feed in the estuary at low tide.

On the main part of the beach these Oyster Catchers were standing in the sunshine. Their conservation state is listed as "recovering". They are usually black with an orange bill and reached low numbers until they were protected in 1922, since then their numbers have slowly grown. They can live up to about 30 years old.

If you can see this little guy he's a Dotteril, their status is listed as "endangered" but they are slowly recovering. A total of 2075 northern NZ ones were counted in the 2011 breeding census. Southern Dotterils reached a low of 62 birds in 1992 but they have responded well to management and the post population fluctuated between 240 and 290 birds from 2005 to 2013. Since then there has been another decline and in 2015 there were fewer than 200 birds.

These ones are Eastern bar tailed Godwits and they fly long distances breeding in Alaska then fly to NZ staying over Summer and feeding on the flats from September until March. They are also protected but they are classed as "declining".

Sadly most people care about conservation here but we still get those who just don't care. There is suppose to be no vehicles, horses, cats, dogs, ferrets, stoats, rats and mice but people still drive in places like this, ride their horses and take their dogs near the birds and their nests.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

Winter in Ahipara Bay

We were up in Ahipara Bay last weekend. It's a small beachside settlement about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Kerikeri just past Kaitaia.  Rather a chilly windy Winter's day but it was still good to get out in the fresh air. I have a thing for driftwood, I like seeing all the different shapes and patterns made by nature and the ocean on the wood.

The tide was going out and this particular coastline is at the southern part of 90 Mile beach so you can pretty much drive your car or quad along the sand.

We had the other B's work 4 wheel drive so there was no way we could get stuck. Quite a few people here and there walking their dogs and sitting on the sand with their children.

Ahi means "fire" and para means "fern" - it's translate as "fire at which fern was cooked". Before the 18th century this place was named "Wharo" which means "stretched out" and considering the length of the beach I would agree with that.

Blustery Hihi Beach

Usually on Sundays we like to relax as it's our first day off each week but we decided to get outdoors instead. So after driving through the countryside for about 50 minutes we stopped at Hihi (hee hee) beach.

My hayfever allergies were playing up to the max so I was sneezing alot but it was good to get out of the car and walk along the sand.

Very choppy waves and a chilly breeze blew us around a bit. The only sign of life we saw was in the form of 2 young surf-casters walking with their rods around the rocks.

From the beach we could see over to the other side of the bay - this is Cooper's Beach in the distance.

Definitely not a day for swimming I think. This is quite an isolated spot with a few holiday homes and baches grouped together, not my cup of tea. I like small town life but it's convenience to have a supermarket, shops and other outlets where we live. I bet this place is packed over Summer though.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

Signs of Autumn at Kawakawa

Autumn skies and scenery at Kawakawa Bay where the tide was out. This lovely place is about 45 minutes south of Auckland central on the coast just before Orere Point.

You know Summer is on its way out when my sinuses and hayfever allergies start playing up...right about now.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Let's sit at Wainui Bay

Along the Matauri Bay coastline is this gem of a beach....Wainui Bay which is a tiny beach surrounded by a handful of holiday homes and baches. So quiet and peaceful - I can understand why someone would want to be here.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Summer at Tapeka Point

We discovered some new beaches last weekend, one of which was Tapeka Point which is about 10 minutes out of Russell. A quiet little spot with only a handful of happy people mostly families enjoying the cove. There was a pontoon that people swim out to and jump off, there were towels laid on the grass and sand ready for sunbathing and there were picnic spots all set up. One of those hot Summer days...

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Fresh air and ginger in Kohukohu

When I was a child I suffered terribly from car sickness. My parents use to have to frequently stop on the side of the road during any of our family travels. There was one place in particular that I remember which was a pig farm in Te Hana - I still remember the sign some 30 years later and even now the place is still there.

Up until now I thought I'd grown out of it....not so. After we drove around some of the gravel dirt country roads here we ended up going through some very winding roads for at least an hour and a half. My tummy was not impressed so when we arrived in Kohukohu we stopped so I could buy ginger beer at the local dairy which worked a treat. Ginger is suppose to be a natural remedy for sickness apparently - I ended up sitting in the sun on a park bench breathing in some fresh air and ended up being as right as rain.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

1st World War Memorial in Kohukohu

Since we've moved to Northland we have been trying to visit one new place every couple of weeks. Yesterday we drove about an hour or so out to Kohukohu, a small town on the edge of the Hokianga River. This was the first thing we saw after getting out of the car for some much needed fresh air including these two nice Maori ladies who I greeted by saying "kia ora" meaning "hello" and it was good to hear a cheery "kia ora" back with a smile.

This is the Hokianga Arch of Remembrance dedicated to those who fought in the 1st World War. It was dedicated in 1927 but after being damaged by trucks needing access to the wharf in the 1950s it was moved to the sports field and modified with some gates. Recently it was moved back near the original site at the wharf and has had extra names added to it from the 2nd World War and Vietnam War.

Campers at Tauranga Bay

Spring camping time has started here in NZ. Normally around Labour Weekend which starts usually in the last weekend of October people start going away places either in their campers or with their tents. It's a good way to see the beautiful parts of our country - I'm not a camping fan unfortunately but it looks like these people have a good view of Tauranga Bay and the coastline.

Spring at the Piapia Reserve

On Monday we decided to drive around the local area and find some new beaches we'd seen on google maps, unfortunately the ones we had in mind looked privately owned as there were gated driveways at the entrances so we instead decided to just keep going.

One of the places we stopped at was the Piapia Reserve, a tiny little cove just off the main road. Apart from us there was only one other person there surfcasting on the main beach. Apparently camping is forbidden there but not car parking so we greatly enjoyed walking on the golden sand and feeling warmth under our feet. Near the signpost were piles of broken Kina shells - I've never tried Kina but when I was little my grandad had whole empty Kina shells  and he use to tell me they were sea eggs so that is what we have always referred to them as. Perhaps I'll get my chance one day.

Overcast Opua Wharf

Opua wharf is maybe 45 minutes from Kerikeri, quiet small area where houses are built on the hills and cliffs. Down by the water is a Fish n Chip shop, wharf and marina. We weren't there for long, we had a quick look around and set off home again after - one of those overcast warm Spring days.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Rangihoua Heritage Park

We got out for a visit out to Rangihoua Heritage Park this morning - this is a place the other half has been itching to see for a while.

From the top of the walk way this was the view we had of the Kerikeri Inlet Harbour - so beautiful on a sunny Spring day like today. From the top it was about a 30 minute walk to the coast and along the way we trekked along a slightly muddy 4 wheel drive track. 

Rangihoua Pā and Kainga (village) was the local town at the time of the mission settlement, home to many hundreds of people including Chief Ruatara, Māori leader and friend of Reverend Samuel Marsden. The people of Rangihoua Pā were the protectors of the settlement in its early days.

Today only a few terraces remain of the first European settlement established by the Church Missionary Society at Rangihoua Bay in 1814. In 1832, the settlement moved to more fertile land at Te Puna, a few kilometres to the west.

Lots of Kowhai trees around our area at the moment too - their name in Maori means "yellow".

The Park was established by the Marsden Cross Trust Board together with its partners Ngāti Torehina, the Rangihoua Native Reserve Board and the Department of Conservation. The prime objective is to inform and educate the people of New Zealand and visitors from abroad of the significance of Rangihoua and the events of 1814 and the years that followed.

Marsden Cross (above) marks where the Reverend Samuel Marsden preached his first sermon on Christmas Day 1814. That line of trees in the above photo is where the track started at the top and carried on along down the hill.

There are cultivation lines running down the slope that may be the gardens Marsden’s travelling companions referred to as “plantations of kumara, potatoes and other vegetables”. 

The terraces that you can see on this slope today are where the missionaries’ homes were and also the country’s first school house. 

So it was back towards the way we came but firstly through this short native bush walk. Next weekend another adventure...

Camping at Rangiputa

Rangiputa Beach is one place that is so just peaceful and beautiful. This tiny wee beach side settlement is located within the Karikari peninsula and consists of 2 settlements - 1 is Whatuwhiwhi and the 2nd is Tokerau beach. Very quiet, beach and when we were there exploring it we were the only ones around except for someone launching their boat from the ramp.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Mystery object at Taupo Bay

When B and I stopped at Taupo Bay a few months ago on our Northland journey we spotted this strange looking thing on the beach with pieces of driftwood in it.

At first I thought it was some kind of sink or basin then we realized it looked like an old washing machine bottom, like one of the retro wringer ones our parents probably had. Looks like it's been well used.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Summer days at 90 Mile beach

This is one place I want to get back to once Summer comes from December until March. 90 Mile Beach is one of those places that goes on and on stretching from Kaitaia up to Cape Reinga. It's on the west coast of our North Island and is approx 88 miles long.

Its beach and sand dunes are popular with tourists - this area has been the culprit of quite a few shipwrecks in the old days. Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear drove along here in one of their episodes with James May.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Do you ever...?

A tiny caravan and dingy moored on Kaiaua beach - Winter this year on a stormy day.

Tell me something...do you ever doubt yourself that you can accomplish new things you've never done before? Growing up I use to think I was stupid but as I've gotten older (and I'm certainly not boasting that I"m intelligent in any way) I've realized that I'm one of those people who doesn't learn in conventional settings such as a classroom with a blackboard - I seem to learn better doing it myself in a hands on manner. The skills I've built up over the years have been from life experiences and I think that if I want to learn something I nut it out until I know I can do it.

Last week after being at my new job for less than 2 weeks I was promoted to being one of the 6 supervisors there. It makes me think that it's such an important role they must see something in me that the management think I can do well. I've had to work so hard in life to get where I am and to earn a wage so that I can provide for myself and when my children were younger. I'm kind of proud of myself that I've made it this far.

My question is: why are we so critical of ourselves when other people obviously see something different?

Te Wahapu O Whangaroa

Whangaroa Harbour - just beautiful - probably one of my favourite ever spots here in Northland. So quiet, peaceful, more of a seasonal holiday place but also a great fishing area.

On the welcoming sign into the harbour it says "Te Wahapu O" meaning The Door to Whangaroa "Whanga" meaning wait and "roa" meaning long. Not sure of that translation - maybe it means The door to waiting there for a long time? who knows but I wanted to stay there longer it was so lovely.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Starfish and Stingrays

Plenty of these guys at Opito Bay, 10-15 minutes north of Kerikeri - I was quite surprised at how many there were washed up on the sand.

And I don't know how clearly you can see this but there is a rather large Stingray lying in the shallow water at Kerikeri cruising club - I would say there were probably Orca in the harbour that this guy was hiding from - because otherwise they eat squid, small fish or shrimp.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.