Terrific Tawharanui

Sunday 28 September

A gorgeous morning as we packed up Banjo and I had a walk around the POP, meeting the cows at morning golden hour and observing family life with the Honk Wah parents and their six lovely ducklings.

We then headed over to Tāwharanui Beach (on purpose this time!) for a walk in the sunshine. The peninsula is a native bird sanctuary and the sea surrounding it a marine reserve so it was all about the wildlife.

Coming down onto the beach, we headed west, slipped past the gull rock as the tide came in and walked the length of the bay. It did make me laugh - to the right the rocks were absolutely covered in rowdy gulls, to the left, on the inland side was a single pukeko striding about atop the rocky outcrop!

Just by the gulls' rock, the tide washed in some stunning shells including a perfect tiny kina, sea urchin. It's quite rare to find such an unbroken specimen.

As we passed along the beach we encountered some of Tāwharanui's famed birdlife - a cormorant perched on a rock in the surf, some black & fluro oyster catchers, some elegant terns with their black heads and long swooping wings, and of course the peachy fronted dotterels with their sandy camouflage and preference for scurrying across the beach rather than taking off and flying away!

There were a few hardy surfers, but the waves were not being very kind as we walked along; we got to the end of the bay, touched the cliffs (as it tradition) and turned back - the tide was right in so we had to go the inland route back round Pukeko rock, and the surfers in the first bay were catching some far better waves by then (forgot to take pics though)

Leaving the beach we ran the gauntlet of flittering piwakawaka as we crossed the dunes, then had to get past the pukekos who seemed to have zero fear of humans!

Back at Willow Park POP we said hello to the farm dogs - two very bossy pugs - and goodbye to our neighbours and hitched up to head back to Auckland. Fortunately the road south from here was lots smoother and the fridge travelled safely! Popping out of Puhoi tunnel the side winds were quite gnarly, but we survived.

Reversing into Mairi & Tim’s drive was easy as on this second visit - nice work Louis!

Had a chill afternoon, caught up with the Orrs, Summer & Dilligas and got a bit of shopping done. Louis had his first pool swim - 666m, very devilish - and I hopped in the Orrs' pool with the kids for a splashing good time!

Amy popped over for dinner and I had a video call with my next wedding couple (always hoping I get my licence renewed!)

What a lovely day!!