TAWHARANUI REGIONAL PARK HERE WE COME...
On the 29th of August we headed off again, this time to Tawharanui Regional Park, for our 6th Leisure Walk of the year. It was rather a long drive, but enjoyable to see all the sights on the way. When we arrived we slipped our backpacks on, popped a lolly into our mouths to boost our energy for a hike up some really steep hills.
After some tramping up those steep hills, through many muddy fields, dodging all the sheep pellets, not too mention Diana slipping and sliding, landing herself full of mud, we made it to Maori Bay. We stopped at this isolated rocky beach and celebrated Helen's birthday with a delicious chocolate cake Mrs Massari had baked.
Once we were well rested we headed up and over a few more hills to Tokutu Point. On our way there we were lucky to bump into a park volunteer who helps track Kiwi birds. She stopped to talk to us and we learnt so much about the conservation work she does. She told us that they have released 40 kiwi birds into the park, since they have managed to make it virtually predator free, in order to protect our native wildlife. She helps track 7 of the kiwi birds, which have transmitters on their legs. The transmitters can tell her whether they are alive and well, sitting on eggs and where abouts they are located. It was very exciting to hear that within the next few weeks a few little kiwi birds will hatch. Did you know that the male sits on the eggs for 80 days! When his job is done, he is apparently really skinny!
After a good chat with Sue, the conservation volunteer, we continued our tramp to Tokutu Point.
When we reached our destination we enjoyed a little bite to eat, relaxed and enjoyed the view before continuing through the fields and down to the beach.
After enjoying the view, up we got again to complete the last of our adventurous day out. We strolled through more fields, up and over numerous stiles, enjoying the company of several little lambs and feeling the freshness of the sea-breeze until we reached the long white beach of Anchor Bay. Once at Anchor Bay we enjoyed our scrumptious packed lunches and quenched our thirsts before dipping our feet in the cool water.
What an exciting day out we had, we got to experience our beautiful world...we listened to the peaceful, safe, openess of nature...we smelt the freshness of sea that surrounded us and could reach out and touch the foliage around us, the coarse sand and variety of shells on the beach. All in all we had lots of fun and once again look forward to our next adventure.
Don't forget to get out and enjoy what our beautiful country has to offer...remember it's all free and it beats computer games, dvds, ipods and shopping!
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