Tropical Cyclone Oma

This is where we take our boat, out at Opito Bay a favourite place of ours. This is the other half's work ute launching it off the boat ramp. This week we have rain which is sorely needed here, so many people who live rural and have huge 10,000 litre tanks for rain are starting to nearly run out and farmers need their grass to grow for cattle. We have a cyclone forecast for this weekend but at this stage we don't know whether it's heading for us or Australia. Either way I"m sure it'll bring some much needed relief.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

The secret world of fungi

Along the Rainbow Falls River walk is this trail, it's about 5 minutes walk in. What I liked about this particular spot was the gnarled tree trunks and roots. Who knows how long they've been growing there for or what stories they could tell about what they've seen over the years?

On the outside of one of these trees was some funky thing growing out of the trunk. I'm not 100% sure if it's fungi or some parasitic disease. I still have to narrow that down. I do hope it's a fungi, if we have the latter growing in our native forests then there is a danger that in the future we will have less and less of the things that make NZ special and unique.

It's a day for Dolphins

Today we were out in our boat after an absence of about a month or so. The forecast was for 20 knot winds and when we woke up this morning all was still in the air and the sea looked like a mirror but once we were out on the water the clouds came out and the wind came up.

After moving around different places trying to get bites while avoiding the choppy high waves and me feeling very sick (normally I don't get seasick) we finally stopped in once spot behind one of the islands.

We lost our berley twice, the 2nd time we let it go but this little bird seemed to find us fascinating. If you can see him he's brown with white feathers and was loving the little scraps of bait we were throwing out. Apparently he's a Fluttering Shearwater bird also known as Pakaha/Puffinus Gavia, feeds on small crustaceans and krill. They breed on offshore islands around the North Island and Cook Strait from September to February before migrating to Australia.

While we were out there we happened to witness a pod of about 30 dolphins chasing a school of Kahawai around us and 2 other boats that we were also out on the water. Just amazing to see these beautiful creatures.

Another subject - Valentines Day - did you celebrate it? We didn't and don't normally. Baz and I have been together nearly 4 years and we do things for each other throughout the year so we don't see that one day is really needed.

Kerikeri River Falls

Another local waterfall (I think there are 8 in total) we've discovered on our treks around this area is this one - the Kerikeri River Falls Track.  This one is near the Stone Store and took us about 20 minutes in total to walk there, very pretty and quiet considering it's so close to town.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Kewpie Cruising...

Back when we lived in Tauranga we use to regularly see this wee boat cruising the harbour with passengers. A few times I wanted to go on it but life got in the way.

Not be confused with Northland's Kewpie Too, this baby "Kewpie Cruises" has a licensed bar, 2 levels, a lounge bar and a dance floor - it almost doesn't quite look like it has that much room from the outside.

Speaking of boats we haven't been out in ours much lately, over Summer there were too many people out there also fishing so we are waiting for the tides to be right. We think that around mid to late February it might be time to get out there again.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Historical Kororipo Pa

Near Kerikeri's Stone Store is this historic gem - the Kororipo pa site was once occupied by some of the Hongi Hika and Rewa's people (Ngapuhi) in the 1820s. This was once a stockaded fortress and used as a port to collect shellfish, seafood and a place to store  their canoes.

This area was previously occupied by another tribe called Ngati Miru until they were attacked by the Ngapuhi.

Kororipo - meaning Waha-o-teriri (mouth of war) is now under the protection of NZ's Department of Conservation and it is a popular tourist spot.

Hongi Hika and his people left Kerikeri for Whangaroa at the end of 1826 and after being hurt in battle in 1827 died in 1828. In 1830 Rewa and his people left Kerikeri to live at Russell then Kororipo became deserted. Rewa sold 7 acres to James Kemp in 1831 to become part of his farm and mission station and in 1838 the remaining 6 acres were also sold to James Kemp by Hongi's sons Hongi and and Puru. This 6 acres was gifted to the nation by E.S. Little in the 1950s.

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.