That lone figure is Elisa, keeping an eye on Ash in the water.

On Saturday afternoon, the Kiwis and I set off on a day mission to Tawharanui Beach. The beach is only one part of the giant park, in effect a nature preserve complete with a predator fence to keep the reserve’s sheep safe. In addition to the sheep, I met my first pukeko (now officially my favourite bird) and her little puffpall babies.

Mama Pukeko keeping watch from the safety of the long grasses

We’d taken our time getting out to the beach, stopping in a small town (whose name I cant remember right now. Elisa?) to visit the honey market (where we arrived right on the heels of a busload of Japenese tourists. The poor place was packed!), another little town (Puhoi) to buy a king’s ransom of cheese, and then Warkworth to load up on fush & chups to eat on the beach.

*mmmmoceanygoodness*

The minute I saw the ocean, I wished I’d brought my swimsuit. We’d figured that the water would still be too cold (it was freezing when E and I went to Karekare beach), so only Ash was prepared for a dip. While he frolicked in the waves, we watched enviously from the shore, our pant legs rolled up so that we could at least get our toes wet.

Not much else to tell of this story, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

A cave alongside the beach

The sheep who shunned me.

Cheeky Maori Statue

More photos (and you know there are more!) are here.

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