Whakapirau Wharf with views of Pahi

One of my favourite places ever - Whakapirau wharf with a view of Pahi and the old Pahi Hotel in the distance. This is one of most scenic, peaceful, captivating areas in the Kaipara district where we live. Just stunning!

Seagulls are such funny creatures!

While out at Whakapirau beach last week with my friend Liz we saw the most funny sight - I use to think Seagulls were quite silly creatures but this has started me thinking.

We saw a flock of them watching us eat some treats we had bought with us, nothing unusual there right? Two birds in particular caught our attention....one was a baby gull squawking away at what looked to be his mother. Not only was she ignoring him but she was running away as fast as she caught - she almost reminded me of what a harrassed parent who needed a break would look like. A couple of times he threw a bird like temper tantrum, was stamping his little webbed feet and getting in her face. Eventually he gave up, swam into the water and started ducking under the water looking for sprats. It really was the most comical experience!

Reflections over Whakapirau Beach

A couple of days ago a good friend and I took a road trip around the Kaipara district along back roads looking for an old abandoned cemetery. On our travels we stopped at one of our favourite beachs: Whakapirau which is a very quiet area at this time of year. Summer people come here and swim and over Autumn/Winter it completely quitens down. In the distance of this photo you can see a building and a wharf - that's the old dairy factory which has closed down now and along the shore were a flock of oyster catchers waiting for the tide to go out so they could pick at shellfish and sprats.

Being here, just sitting, pondering, looking out on the stunning coastline makes me happy. For more weekend reflections click here :-)

St Alban's Anglican Church - Whakapirau

A couple of years ago I drove out to Whakapirau (a maori place name pronounced Whok-a-pee-row) and took some photos of the St Alban's Anglican Church. This historic building was first built from Kauri around the area in 1896 thanks to the local community fundraising and from what Heritage.org.nz says the land underneath it was originally part of a block that was tapu (sacred or forbidden) by koiwi after the battle of Marohemo in 1825. The tapu was then lifted from the land by a gathering of koiwi and the bones were used to fertilise local vineyards in the area. more information here.

I would love to get back out here and take some more photos of the cemetery nearby which is also historical. Beautiful place with a beach 5 minutes down the road and a small settlement of houses.

More our world Tuesdays here :-)

Thoughts of Kaipara's Whakapirau beach - time to get back!

My daughter and I visited the lovely Whakapirau beach on the Kaipara coast earlier this year. It's one of those places that is situated in a quiet scenic area with not many people around. It's family friendly and absolutely beautiful! We're planning another trip out there when it warms up here.