The Moa and the Kiwi

This week I have been busy at home starting the packing process, going through my linen cupboard to decide what we kept and what we really didn't need. There was no need to be ruthless we really did have alot of stuff. In the end I put things like sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, dvd movies and kitchen appliances on local Facebook pages for people to pick up - let's just say each thing went very quickly.

Anyway last time we were in Waipu I spotted this wooden carving outside the local vets. Apparently in 2016 two gum trees which had grown too big were due to be cut down. One of the trees was carved into a dog but this one was carved into a large moa bird and a smaller kiwi next to it.

A chainsaw sculptor named Peter Hardie was responsible for the handywork and the locals of the town were very happy with the end result.

Linking up with My Corner of the World.

Top of the Goldschmidt Track

Near the carpark at our surf beach we have a walk called the Goldschmidt track named after a local family who have organized many walking weekends in our town. I've done this a couple of times now, it's pretty easy and only takes about 30 minutes up and down.

About halfway up the sandy steps this was the view out over the carpark and the estuary. Lucky it was pretty quiet but come Summer this place will be packed with visitors.

This one I believe is dog friendly but there are quite a few that aren't due to some areas being kiwi breeding colonies or fairy tern egg nesting spots.

The way down was a bit more rocky than the way up I think due to alot of rain that we had then. Sadly about a week after I took these photos a group of people were seen on CCTV lighting fireworks on the hill which caught alight and caused a ton of damage. We had the local volunteer fire service there plus 8 other brigades from as far as Ruawai and Whangarei helping out. I'm not sure if they caught the culprits yet.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Early in the morning

I've been getting out most mornings to walk around town, sometimes I walk for about an hour and sometimes it's a bit less depending on what I see and find. Since the days are getting longer and the mornings are getting lighter I walked along our local estuary while the tide was out and saw this scene. Boats moored in the low tide, driftwood and logs stranded on the sand with blue skies above made me feel glad is Spring.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Christmas day Bougainvillea

Christmas day came and went here in NZ. Christmas eve luckily I didn't have to work and my parents had come up to spend 2 days with us unfortunately we had constant rain - our country got quite a downpour but Christmas day morning the sun came out and shone down on us again.

Some of the goodies we feasted on were typical Kiwi traditions such as Pavlova, Fruit Sponge plus I had mad a Chocolate log with cream and jam in the middle. We also had a pork roast with various vegetables - the other half had barbequed some scallops wrapped on bacon. My mum (in the photo above) cutting the deserts into slices.

Later on after they had left I ventured out for a walk and saw this carpet of purple and red Bougainvillea lining the walkway near our house. How did your day go?

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.

Charlie's Rock Waterfall

A couple of weeks ago on our quest to find local waterfalls around our area the other half found this one online - it's called "Charlie's Rock Waterfall".

So it takes about 15-20 minutes in total through a short pathway and bushwalk which included climbing over some muddy tracks and slippery rocks.

But totally worth the view considering this is what we found at the end. A very warm Spring day with some tourists jumping off the rocks into the cold water.

Up until recently the waterfall was accessed through private property but I believe the local council through some hard work organized public access.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Pukeko birds galore!

Since we've moved here to Kerikeri I've noticed there are a lot of these birds just about everywhere compared to anywhere else I've lived. The NZ Pukeko (pronounced poo-keck-oh) loves swampy, wet places and sometimes we see them on the edges of motorways because they love scrounging around for leftovers.

They have black and blue features with red beaks and unfortunately aren't very intelligent at all. Unlike our national Kiwi birds these ones aren't endangered at all because they are prolific breeders but they are predators of baby ducklings and are sometimes regarded as pests.

The Kerikeri Mission House

Welcome to New Zealand's oldest surviving heritage building. The Kerikeri mission house was finished in 1822 as part of the mission station by the Church Missionary Society.

Samuel Marsden established the Anglican mission to NZ with lay preachers who lived in the Bay of Islands under the protection of Hongi Hika, the chief of the local Ngapuhi tribe. In 1819 Marsden purchased the land from the tribe and using Maori plus European labour instructed Reverend John Butler to erect the buildings under shelter of the Ngapuhi tribe or the local Kororipo Pa. They were interrupted by the Ngapuhi campaign under the Musket Wars.

The house is made mostly of Kauri. John Butler was sacked in 1823, then  George Clarke occupied the house until the early 1830s when the Ngapuhi had abandoned the Kororipo Pa but the mission station by that time didn't need any protection.  The house was then lived in by James and Charlotte Kemp in 1832 and later purchased by the Kemps and stayed in their family for 142 years until it was donated to the NZ Historic Places Trust.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

A walk to Te Wairere Falls

So since we moved to Kerikeri we've been looking up local areas to visit. The other half has been on a quest to find waterfalls around here - so far this is the 5th one we've found. With Spring here there has been alot of colour blooming - this Genista is a very vibrant yellow and there was about 3 or 4 in amongst the walk. 

This walk is called Te Wairere Stream Falls - so beautiful and peaceful and quiet, we were the only ones there. The pathway itself was quite slippery and muddy in places, I expect in Summer it will dry out quite a bit.

The walk takes about 35 minutes from start to finish and we crossed several bridges along the way.  As we walked around there was a little fantail that flitted around and followed us, crossing our paths several times but it was so quick we could never get a decent photo.

Every couple of weekends or so we try to get out and explore somewhere new. Want to know how I first got into walking? A few years ago after a bad breakup I went through a depression. I'm normally quite a positive person so after about 6 months of just feeling yuck and constantly down I knew i had to pull myself out of what felt like a dark hole.

A friend invited me to take part in a 8k walking event with her - I had never done one before so I accepted thinking it would be easy but it was really really hard work but it got me into walking and since then I try to walk at least 3-4 times a week plus get out with the other half and I have to say we now really enjoy it - there's nothing like finding new places.

This place had several swimming holes, the water at the moment would be fairly cold but we were wondering come Summer whether there would be more people here. Apparently access to the waterfall was lost for 60 year and was only opened back up again in April 2017. At the end was this wonderful waterfall - we just wanted to sit here and enjoy the tranquility. Back in the horticultural heyday of the town it was pretty much the town's only recreational spot.

Nosey farm animals

So nice and sunny today - a perfect Spring day. Day 2 of my 2 days off so the other half and I were out and about enjoying one of our walks. This one trekked past some private lifestyle blocks - this one had a few sheep dotted here and there but this baby who looks to be about 18 months old watched us, came up to the fence and mooed while sunning herself in the sunshine.

Once her friend saw she was getting attention he ambled up as well and stood there staring at us. Such nosey friendly creatures though.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Monarch butterflies everywhere

After a couple of bush walks on our days off this Monarch butterfly caught my attention on our way back to the car. Easily distracted I am I think! After following it I found there were quite a few more than this one. It's been such a mild winter up here that it feels like Spring has come early, maybe that's why this guy was out enjoying the sunshine.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Saint Michael's Anglican Church, Ohaeawai

Last weekend B and I explored a bit more of the outer area of Kerikeri. This time we found an old church, one of the many that are dotted around New Zealand. This one is just before the tiny settlement of Ohaeawai - it's dated from 1871 and was built on the site of an old battle, the battle of Pene Taui's Pa in 1845.

The church was built by local Ngapuhi people and at the opening in 1872 the remains of soldiers killed in the early battle were moved there. Inside the church is an account of the fight and and a plaque listing all the names.

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.

Daffodils at Waimate North

You haven't seen much of me this week. I've been in Supervisor training at work so by the time I get home at night I'm pretty much ready for bed. We have been however exploring local places over the last couple of weeks on my day off and have been taking lots of photos of the scenery.

Last weekend was a bit chilly with a bit of a cold Winter breeze in the air but I think Spring is on the way as I did see these yellow Daffodils and white Jonquils at Waimate North in the countryside about 10 minutes out of town.

Reflections at Kerikeri Cruising Club

Winter skies and reflections at the Kerikeri Cruising Club - similar to a Fishing club. Photo taken last week. We've had mostly sunny warm days since we moved up here, only one night of rain - feels like Spring.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Blossoms and boats at the Landing

Another place we explored since we moved here less than 2 weeks ago is this place. Named "The Landing" this area has a boat ramp and wharf. A waterfall is at the top near the road and cherry blossoms line the river bank.

There were probably 3 small trees with pink blossoms along with bees buzzing around and enjoying the winter sun.

There a small amount of dinghys and small boats parked near the wharf. We are actually looking online at the moment at buying one for ourselves as we are both fishing nuts.

This is the wharf and boat ramp. It was quite a still calm winter's day. This area seems to be filled with alot of mangroves and I would call it an estuary more than anything. No doubt it's a great place for Snapper and Flounder to congregate.

Yachts at Opito Bay

So, last weekend the other half and I drove around the area to check out the best places to launch our potential fishing boat when we get it and 10 minutes out of town we came across this place. Named Opito Bay it's lovely and quiet and peaceful with only a few houses opposite the beach area. Think this will do well!

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

The old Towai Tavern

After a long 6 hour drive up on Monday we are now in Kerikeri and settled in the new house. It really is quiet here - we live down a quiet street in amongst some other equally lovely new houses and yet if we walk up the road 5 minutes we are on the main street into town which takes about 15 minutes on foot. So far we've only had to use the car once but other than that if we need something we walk so it's been good exercise.

Do any of you have Netflix? We've had it for about 6 months now and it really is very good. I like learning things about different cultures so I enjoy watching international movies (with sub-titles). Yesterday I watched an Italian movie called "Holy Goalie" about a group of monks who form a soccer team to win a championship and last week I watched a movie based on the artist "Jackson Pollack". My mum's father was an artist who held exhibitions in Auckland City during the 1960s so myself and various cousins have artistic abilities that we enjoy in our spare time so I guess some of those genes have sprinkled through the family.

The above photo is of the old Towai Tavern situated in Hikurangi just outside of Kawakawa. This place is on the historic places trust of NZ. It was established approx 133 years ago and was then moved in 1933 further up the hill on rollers, guess it makes sense to have it right next to the state highway. Looks quirky on the outside, we didn't stop and peek inside but will have to go back sometime and check it out properly.

Totara North Container Artwork...

Totara North is one of those tiny settlements in the upper north island just out of the Whangaroa Harbour. Apart from a few warehouse buildings and fishing boats it didn't take us long to drive through...however being from a small town myself discovering places like this is what I love the most.

We spotted this old redecorated shipping container down by the wharf near the water's edge. Whoever is responsible is very clever don't you think?

Good winter's morning Mangawhai!

My weekend was full of visiting with my 3 teenagers and family members up in Mangawhai Heads, my home town. While my daughter and I were driving to the local shops I deviated down to the boat ramp and snapped this photo of the sun rising over the sand dunes at the estuary. Today I'm heading home back to Tauranga.

Hope your weekend has been good too :-)