End Mileage: 172113
Start Mileage: 171955
Distance Travelled: 158
Left Haslip Manor about 10 am for a quick trip to Muriwai. We did actually
stop in at the Christmas Rally being held by the NZ Motorhome and Caravan
Association at the Kumeu Rugby grounds but we were kind of late so basically
missed out on that. Seems people leave first thing on the Sunday!
So off to Muriwai for a coffee, sigh, another lovely view. This time looking
out over the Gannet Colony.
Muriwai stretches 60 km north on the west coast and is a typical west coast
black sand surf beach. At the southern end is Maori Bay and Otakamiro Point
which is the site of one of the few mainland gannet breeding colonies. (The
other ones being at Cape Kidnappers (near Napier), and Farewell Spit (northern
end of South Island)). Also living here are white fronted terns, blue penguins
and fur seals. (Also the odd surfer (they can be seen all year round) in the
water!) There are about 1,200 pairs of adult gannets that nest each summer, fur
seals feed and rest at Oaia Island which is 1.6 km off the coast and are
sometimes seen during spring.
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