After writing my last blog yesterday my cousin Dawn took me up to Orewa for lunch. Orewa is north of Stanmore Bay with a beautiful beach. The Main Street facing the sea is full of restaurants as it has become such a popular place for the locals. We went to one which had an upstairs with a terrace looking over the coast. As all good Kiwis should do we both had a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
After a rather interesting lunch; I ordered a Beetroot and Walnut Salad and it came back with yellow bits in it, which the waiter told me they were Yellow Beetroot, but want back for the Red; we headed off for a walk around the estuary.
The housing developments were very well laid out and the storm water drains feed into an artificial lake with a walk around it and little bridges across it
This pretty little lake is a lovely amenity for the locals who just want a gentle stroll.
Crossing the road we began our walk on the Estuary Walk
We didn’t have time to do the whole walkway so headed towards the beach. The tide was gradually coming in, but I thought my friends in the UK would be interested to see Mangroves, which grow in the swampy conditions of the tidal mud flats. You find these in various locations in the North Island.
On the return leg of our walk we passed some Pukekos in a field. They are also known as Swamp Hens they are found throughout Australasia. The swampy conditions of the estuary would be a perfect habitat.
After the lovely walk we headed back to Stanmore Bay. During the night we had a thunderstorm and torrential rain. I’d forgotten how heavy it can be here. Dawn and George have bird feeders in the back garden and the birds have been coming in in their droves to eat the seeds. its been lovely to see Green Finches again. I haven’t seen them in my garden for 10 years or more.
