Water

Bluff Oysters - my first (but not last) for 2010

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Bluff oysters - a local delicacy , not available all year and the “season” just opened.

These purchased fresh (never frozen) battered and savoured at my nearest beach (Orewa – ten minutes from home) . Well done my local fish shop at Silverdale .

Now that’s what I call the way to end a working day especially a Monday  and yes I admit it I ate at least six before I got the camera out - so bite me !!

Sheep

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We have over 30 million sheep in New Zealand,

a large reduction on the numbers 30 years ago

(there are only just over 4,000,000 of us).

Never the less still more than enough for our Australian neighbours

to make up plenty of jokes relating to Kiwis and sheep,

but at least we don't throw our national symbol (the Kiwi) on the barbeque!

baaaaa

Canterbury sunset

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It's that most popular of Kiwi take aways again !!

Back at the beach for a fish and chip dinner  ---heaven
Hard to grasp that 1.4 million people live but half an hour from here,

 good of them to stay at home and leave the park to me and the

almost no others spread over it's 30+ beach acres ........

Back at Muriwai

m

It was so nice at Muriwai last week that I decided to go back last night for another look.
It was extremely windy and the tide was out so no prospect this week
of seeing fishermen getting washed off the rocks.

I keep meeting very pleasant Canadians (either living here or on holiday) at this location.

(if anyone is interested taken with either a 20D and 17-40 4L or a 50D and 70-200 4L IS,

RAW files tidied up with Elements 8)

Muriwai Regional Park - at sunset

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Muriwai Regional Park - text below from the ARC web site :

"A windswept rugged coastline, 60km of surf beach and rolling dunes of black sand characterise Muriwai Beach, making it one of Auckland's most popular west coast beaches.

The name Muriwai traditionally applied only to wetlands in the Okiritoto Stream Valley.
The park was established in 1906 as Motutara Domain, taking its name from the rock
stack 'motutara' - island of the sea birds.

The domain was expanded over the years and became Muriwai Regional Park in 1969. Muriwai Regional Park extends from Maori Bay in the south up Muriwai Beach for 8km.
The park includes the spectacular Takapu (gannet) Refuge at Otakamiro Point, one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand.
The best time to visit the gannets is between October and February. The chicks hatch in November then leave for Australia at 15 weeks old returning to breed when they are 3 and seven years old."

See also : http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the-region/muriwai/

(totally awesome)

Why fishermen drown at Muriwai

Scandrett Regional park

Monday after work dinner at Scandrett Regional park

(east of Warkworth). As with the other regional park pictures

there would have been a photo of a very nice bacon and

egg pie sitting on the park picnic table if it were not for a cheeky

seagull who swooped and snatched it the second I turned my

back to take the camera out of my back pack.

View from the old farm homestead, right on the beach

no wonder the same family held onto this farm for 130 years.

Well done the  regional council for saving it from the rampant

development in the area and turning it into a park for "everyone"

The old milking shed , what a view !!

Right at the end of this beach there are some iconic

kiwi 1950's bach's  you can rent .

For rent from the regional council - totally awesome

more info :

http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the-region/scandrett/

BLT at Mahurangi regional park

Dinner at the regional park -Wenderholm

 
In Auckland we have a number of regional parks , these are free to use and paid from a a regional tax levied on home owners . Its a tiny amount and so worth paying for the parks see http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/

This is what NZ $12 gets you , two huge snapper fillets, chips and a small
can of Watties tomato sauce (iconic kiwi condiment).

Purchase in Orewa (next to the Countdown)
Drive for ten minutes to the park and eat .

The view while eating , note seagull keeping alert
and looking especially hungry !



On the opposite side to the ocean is a large tidal estuary
which makes for  excellent kayaking if you pick your tides correctly

Wild flowers

xx

I planted a packet of "Wild flower" seed in an old bath full of potting mix before
Christmas and have been enjoying the huge variety of flowers that keep appearing.

Next year something on a larger scale .

Frog chilling on the side of the pond

(not cropped .. this one is getting very tame)

Motorcycle "track day" at the new Hampton Downs race track.- near Mercer

"Born to ride" in 1956, go Steve yeee harr
(2005 Cagiva Xtra Raptor)

Summer drinks

Where red vans hide

Farewell spit from 37,000 feet

See also http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/land-and-freshwater/wetlands/wetlands-by-region/nelson-marlborough/farewell-spit/

Succulent from Mums garden.

Mt Taranaki

Back in Taranaki

Weekday tourist - splendour all to oneself

Traditional 1950's holiday homes near the beach

The west coast south of Awakino