Karangahake Gorge Cycle Ride

Here's four of the Famous Five setting off to cycle from Waihi to Karangahake.

Through farmland near the river...

over bridges...

to the Victoria Battery. This was an old gold mining area and this stamper battery was the centre of an industry employing 200 men. Little remains of the industry or the village.

Owharoa Falls, a minute up a side road were worth checking out.

Allister, Elaine and me.

At Karangahake we locked up the bikes and walked to the 'windows' tunnel. 

View from a window in the tunnel to the track we were just on.

We retraced our journey back to Waikino, where we had lunch in the old station building, now a cafe...

...before boarding the restored train back to Waihi. (There's a bike wagon attached.)

On the train.

We found a great restaurant at Waihi Beach, right on the beach. (The waves were back to normal.)

You can't tell in the photo but the moon was pink as it rose.

 

Tiritiri Matangi Island

A group of us went over to Tiritiri Matangi Island, a wildlife sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf. Although it's autumn we had a lovely sunny, warm day. We caught the ferry from Gulf Harbour - it's about 20 minutes from there to Tiri.

The island is covered by native bush, except at the hilltop where there is a lighthouse and the old keepers houses. There's a shop here and an area to eat picnic lunch.

We took the guided tour, along a track from the jetty to the lighthouse area. After lunch we walked another track back to the beach. Along the way there were bird feeding stations and we also saw birds in the bush. Above is a bellbird.

Views across the Hauraki Gulf towards Auckland.

A tui feeding

Malcolm bird spotting

More bellbirds

A hihi

A bellbird singing

Malcolm and Allister on the track

Some of the group relaxing on the beach

A little blue penguin

Our group, plus a young guide

Drinks and dinner on the way home.

 

Whangarei Staycation

We have been spending January in and around our home town, Whangarei, enjoying the beaches, bush and times socialising with friends. I've been for several swims at Wellingtons Bay (above and below)

In the other direction, McLeod Bay in the Whangarei harbour... 

I've had a few visits to Waipu; we've walked to the pancake rocks, had lunch at Cove Cafe, dinner at the Pizza Barn, (followed by a folk music concert), attended markets and a New Years Day carnival.

Waipu Estuary

Pancake rock formations on the walk from waipu Cove to Langs Beach.

On the pancake rocks walk

Another nice beach and estuary at Pataua

Then there's our lovely shady bush walks. This is Mair Park, my local walking place beside the river...

And this is a kauri at A H Reed Park

Some of our social activities...night markets and live music at Tutukaka Marina...

listening to jazz at Waipu

folk musicians (10 instruments between them!) Polytropos at Waipu

Steampunk Scottishness and markets at Waipu

Malcolm's birthday celebrations...

The wine is called Malcolm and it goes well with cheese

This get together is at our friend Pam's...

...evening view from her place.