Highwinds, star fish and stingrays

(Written 19/11/06)

bed count: 42

Packed up a (very full) car and headed south from Paihia on Friday. Now at Goat Island Marine Reserve near Warkworth, just north of Auckland. Here for a few days 'holiday' before we head to our first Wwoof at a pet's garden of rememberance.

Unfortunately our move south conincided with some pretty dreadful weather and so our first nights camping was an interesting one. Luckily it wasn't raining or too windy when we put the tent up, but the rain on the first night was accompanied by 60kmh winds... Nice!

Anyhow - we might not have managed to cook on our 7 quid gas burner yet, but atleast we know the tent doesn't leak!

Rained lots yesterday, but we did manage to get to a couple of really good markest in the area and lounge about in the campsite common room. Even managed a walk between showers.

Today a lot more pleasant and managed to explore the marine reserve from the shore at leats. The rerserve was set up in 1975 so the sealife here has had a good long while to flourish undisturbed (no fishing, collecting shellfish / shells / seaweed, etc). Consequently the fish are pretty big and Alec was itching to get his fishing rod out. after seeing the size of the snapper swimming up and down the channels between the rocks.

Spent ages, like 5 year olds, exploring the rockpools and came across a great little pool filled with hermit crabs everywhere we looked - including the tiniest one I have ever seen. The highlight, though, were the starfish. Two of them in the pool, slowly crawling across the rocks using their suckers in a rolling motion. I have never seen starfish move before so this was something really cool.

Anyhow - after spending a good while pouring over the rockpool we headed back down the beach only to be met by a group of people standing round in the water looking at a thin stick poking out of the shallows. Turns out it was a stingray and the stick was its barb. Will be keeping clear of those if we brave the cold water and go snorkelling tomorrow...