A Riverside Stroll

 

A bit of cloud cover this morning meant that the temperature was more tolerable, so I took the opportunity of go for an early walk along the banks of the Waikato River.

I was not alone, as there were several others with the same idea – many of them exercising their pooches at the same time.

The path I took was accessed from the Ferry Wharf below Hamilton Gardens, and descended steeply to a small beach before meandering along the river beneath a shady canopy of mature trees.

Eventually this pathway is planned to go for some distance, but there is currently a new bridge being built across the River so my lovely walk came to a sudden and definite halt.

I considered retracing my steps, but, instead, took the uphill climb towards the old Hamilton East cemetery which operated from the 1860s until 1957.

At one end of the cemetery there is an outdoor consecrated area that has been set aside for religious use, and a little further along there is a lookout point dedicated to John Mashlin, one of the founders of what is now Hamilton Gardens.

The view is back over the carpark, with the Gardens entrance on the right, and the River flowing behind the trees on the left side of the photo.  For some strange reason, I forgot to actually photograph the River!

My walk took me 60 minutes in total, and I was glad I had arrived early.  By the time I was leaving there was a steady flow of traffic into the parking area and hoards of people heading off in all directions into various parts of the Gardens.

It was good to get out in Nature again for a change 😊

Margaret.

 

A Stunning Waterfall and Other Bits

 

Yesterday I had the wonderful experience of being able to ‘escape’ the city again.  This time it was down to Waitomo, near Te Kuiti, and our trip was made more memorable by the superb sunny weather we had.

On our way we passed through Temple View, where the attractive church of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is situated.

First stop was at the Mangapohue Natural Bridge.  There was nobody there except us (one of the few benefits of covid restrictions!), so it was incredibly peaceful.

The boardwalk travelled along beside a stream that once flowed through the base of a large cave system (this area is full of limestone caves). 

The cave roof collapsed long ago, and all that remains now is a natural rock bridge that towers 17 metres above the stream.

Next stop was Marakopa Falls.  The track to view these is only 420 metres long, but it is extremely steep (and it took me more than twice as long to come back up!).

But, wow, the walk was definitely worth it.  The falls were breathtakingly beautiful, with the sun making the water sparkle as it roared over the 35 metre rock face.

We stood in the lookout area for a long time, just admiring the view and feeling the light misty spray brushing against our faces.

Another twenty minutes’ drive and we arrived at Marakopa itself, with its river mouth and black sandy beach.  There were people swimming in the river and others were fishing off the beach further down from us. 

It was full tide and the distant ocean waves could be seen crashing over the sand bar at the mouth of the river.

It was also hitting 25 degrees, so we never stayed long – have you tried touching black sand in the heat?  It is burning!

A shady tree further up the river made a pleasant spot to have some afternoon tea, looking out over the river with all its reflections. 

It was so still and balmy, that it was possible to hear the sheep bleating from the opposite hill.

All in all, it was a most pleasurable day – the sort of day that lingers in the memory to be treasured and brought out every now and then when one needs a bit of cheering up.

Margaret 😊

A Morning Walk

 

I dropped granddaughter off at school this morning and stopped by at the Lake on my way home.

There were already several vehicles parked up, with lots of people out walking and jogging – we don’t need to social distance, but there was more than enough space for everyone to be apart.

I decided to take the top path this morning.  It was cool and pleasant beneath the trees and I enjoyed my solitary walk.

There are always ducks and pukeko around the lake, but I also got to see coots, doves, sparrows, a couple of shy blackbirds (they may be moulting), and a single fantail.

These ducks and pukeko were enjoying the sun and totally ignoring all the people going past them.

It is Friday today, the end of another working week and we are almost half way through February already.  The year seems to be going by quite quickly.

Time now for a mid-morning cup of tea 😊

Margaret.

A Drive In The Country

 

At the end of last week, on a gorgeous sunny day (it is pouring with rain today!), I jumped in the car and went for a drive out of the city.  I didn’t have any set destination in mind and I never traveled too far, so I was home again in a few hours.

I headed for Pirongia first, a small village close beside and named after this semi-dormant volcano.

Pirongia’s Heritage and Visitor Centre was still closed (I was too early) so my visit was short – but it became a timely stop as I took two phone calls while wandering around here.

I love balmy days in the country, and this day the air was heavy in places with the smell of honeysuckle and privet – I know many dislike privet (because of hayfever) but I actually love the scent of the flowers.

This tangled gully was full of birds and bees, and wafted out clouds of scent on the breeze.

Nearby is Kakepuku Mountain, another semi-dormant volcanic cone and a place where we once lived for a short time.

Although now covered with bush and farmland, this mount was once a virtual food basket with its slopes covered in gardens and fruit trees that supplied the resident Maori pa as well as a good proportion of the surrounding district.

This path (which is steep and often slippery) leads to the top of Kakepuku Mountain, where great views can be obtained of the surrounding countryside.

I went for a short Weed Walk along this quiet country road.  I rather enjoy seeing what is growing wild along the roadside.

It is always a pleasure to leave the city behind for a while and remember what rural areas are like – my father used to sneeringly call such drivers Sunday Drivers as they tootled past.  I really don’t know what he had against them.

Keep smiling 😊

Margaret.

An Afternoon Drive

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments yesterday J

Today I thought of going for a drive.  Impossible of course at this time, but I thought that today I could go back and relive a drive that my husband and I did on a lovely autumn day in 2009.

We were staying at Hastings at the time, in the Hawkes Bay, and went for a short afternoon drive along part of the Tukituki River.

We saw many trees covered in autumn beauty.  

The road we took first went past Te Mata Peak, part of the Craggy Range.

The river itself was soon reached and we caught glimpses of it as we traveled along.

We saw children out on horseback.

There were sheep grazing beneath trees clothed in splendid colour.

We drove down one side of the river before crossing over it on this bridge.

Finally, we followed the road back home along the other side of the river.

It was lovely to take a short drive in the countryside – and it is lovely again now to revisit that happy time.

Making joyful memories with the ones you love is the best thing you can ever do in this life,

Margaret.

A Virtual Bush Walk

Otanewainuku Forest, in the Bay of Plenty, is a great place to see original native forest with giant trees and a healthy population of indigenous birds and wildlife.

Looking up at the fronds of a punga, a tree fern

The area is relatively remote, with little cell-phone coverage, but can be accessed by car.  In 2012 some of our family gathered together here to walk the Rimu Loop Track before settling down to a picnic lunch.  

Most of this area has never been logged

The track is 1.8 km long as it winds through the bush ('bush' is what New Zealanders call their forests!), and takes around 45 minutes to walk.

Like all walkways and facilities managed by the Department of Conversation, is now out-of-bounds for the duration of our lockdown.

The Rimu Walk is only one of several tracks through this forest

In some places we could see epiphytes growing on the trees.  In earlier times these parasitic plants were often known as widow-makers, as they would sometimes fall from the tree unexpectedly with dire results for any man standing below.

You can see the epiphytes growing up in the trees

We came across several fallen trees on our walk and some of the more rotten ones had different fungi growing on them.

Fungi growing on a rotting log

This fungi was growing on a well-rotted log

There are ancient rimu trees growing here, along with rata, tawa, kamahi and rewarewa.

Trees towering above walkers on the track

Some of the birds to be found in this forest are bellbirds, tui, black robin, wood pigeon (kereru), the rare kokako, and kiwi.

This darling little Black Robin came to check us out

There was a small picnic area near the carpark and this was where our family met up after the walk.  I remember we had bacon-and-egg pie and tomato sandwiches for lunch!

Picnic area, where we ate lunch together

I hope you enjoyed this virtual bush walk.  The last couple of days I have been spending time real-walking around the outside of our house.  I am thankful we have a yard where I can do this, and not have to walk down the street at all. 

Of course, the distance is only short so I have extended it by doing things like walking around each of our cars, circling around the garden table and chairs, walking a figure-eight on the lawn section and so on.  I try and do different things each circuit – the last thing son wants is for me to wear a figure-eight track into his newly grassed lawn!

Stay happy and healthy J

Margaret.

LINKING TO My Corner of the World

Virtual Walking

There is an eerie calm over our neighbourhood today.  It is obvious that there are people staying at home, but everything is so quiet.  No road traffic noise.  No vehicles coming and going.  No machinery working.  No planes flying overhead.  Not even any over-loud radios playing.  All I have heard is an occasional dog barking and a tui (or it may be a bellbird) chortling in the nearby reserve.

Full lock-down comes into place at 11.59pm tonight (Wednesday).  We are allowed to leave our homes for walks as long as we remain local and maintain distance from anyone we may meet.  I don’t find walking around streets particularly inspiring, so usually drive to wherever I wish to walk.  I think for this period of isolation I will simply remain at home.

I can walk around the house, inside and out, and potter about the garden.  There is space in the living room for dancing and jumping up and down, so plenty of opportunities to get some exercise.  I am truly thankful that I have this space surrounding our home that we can move around in.  Son will be our designated shopper, going to the supermarket for fresh supplies as needed (probably weekly). 

There are many beautiful walks around New Zealand, some short and easy and others long and difficult.  I thought maybe looking at some over the next few weeks could create a “virtual walking” experience.  It would certainly help me to remember that life will once again return to normal and I can once again get out and about and do more of these walks.

Today I thought we could climb Mt Maunganui, or The Mount as it is often referred to.  Known as Mauao in Maori, this extinct volcanic cone rises 232 metres high (761 feet) from the ocean at its base.  The ocean beach here is famous for surfing, and it is located close to the city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.

This walk will be a composite of different ascensions taken over the last twenty years.  There are several paths on The Mount, but some no longer exist as there have been several landslides on the mountain in recent years.

Mt Maunganui viewed from Leisure Island

Start of the trek up, from the Ocean Beach side

This is one of the pathways that no longer exists

Steps on the Waikorire Track

Looking back down on the ocean side

Almost to the summit

Trig station at the summit of Mt Maunganui

The view back down over the town of Mt Maunganui

Heading back down on the other side

The path down this side is very steep in places

Sheep graze on this side of the mountain

Almost back to sea level - this time on the side of Pilot Harbour

I hope you enjoyed the walk J

Stay safe and well,

Margaret.


LINKED TO My Corner of the World

A Morning Stroll

This morning the skies were overcast with a hint of mistiness around the edges, just perfect for a morning walk beside Hamilton Lake.

There is a walking track encircling the Lake but I have never yet walked all of it.  Today I chose an area I hadn’t walked before, winding through trees and flaxes around the edge of the Lake.

It was a busy path, with many walkers, joggers and people out exercising their dogs.

There are many water-lilies in this area and several Pukeko were searching through them looking for food and showing why they are often called swamp-hens (they love marshy places).

Pukeko - Porphyrio melanotus

I saw several different birds on my leisurely walk, including sparrows, pigeons, cormorants, and welcome swallows.  These Australian Coots were also searching among water-lilies looking for food.

Australian Coot - Fulica atra

The Lake is a permanent home to many ducks, mostly Mallards.  These females were busy preening.

Female Mallard ducks - Anas platyhynchos

This male, though, had finished with feeding and preening and was busy catching up on some snoozing.

Male Mallard duck - Anas platyrhynchos

Have a great day everyone J

Margaret.