• Whakatāne Kiwi Trust volunteer does a health check on a kiwi check. The kiwi was known as ‘te manu huna a Tāne’, the hidden bird of Tāne (god of the forest), because it came out mostly at night and was seldom seen

Trail of Kiwi

February 10th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , |

On a hot January afternoon, I took a stroll alongside Whakatāne’s river – and saw 10 kiwi. Small, dark brown, beautifully expressive birds, they were standing on rocks, by buildings, under seats. Tracking them down made for an entertaining hour. Before you start Google searching the changing habits of wild kiwi, these Whakatāne birds aren’t [...]

Freedom to Coast

November 28th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

The Dunes Trail has made quite an impression since it was officially opened in mid-2012. It’s now journeyed by around 20,000 cyclists per year, plus many walkers and runners. Intrepid travellers, fitness enthusiasts, families, a Thursday-evening ‘bike, beer and BBQ’ group, youth groups, motorhomers, e-bikers, hand-bikers – they’re all out there enjoying it. Trail counters [...]

  • Flying in affords a clear view of the collapsed volcano crater that has become the landing site for both boats and helicopters; as well as the site of historical sulphur mine buildings and equipment

Te Puia o Whakaari – Whakatāne White Island

June 3rd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

We had planned to take a helicopter trip to the active volcano in November last year, but life and work intervened so it never happened. However, with the opportunity of two spare days in which to get from Auckland to Martinborough in our motorhome RocknRobyn following the Covi Motorhome Caravan and Outdoor SuperShow, we took [...]

A Walk in the Forest

March 22nd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

I walk carefully along the swing bridges from tree to tree, high up in the redwood forest among the birds. It is another world up here. My vision of coming back as a bird in my next life has taken wings. It is all here before me in this forest setting. I could be a [...]

error: Content is protected !!