Revisit to the Gannet Colony at Muriwai

On Saturday we managed to squeeze a quick trip back to the gannet colony at Muriwai before Victoria’s flying visit came to an end and she headed back to Australia. 

The little fluffy gannet chicks we’d seen a few months back had now grown and had were covered in speckled feathers. There were far fewer birds too, and we were told that we were lucky there were any at all, as they would normally have migrated over to warmer weather by now, but luckily (for us) have decided to stick around due to the extended summer we’ve been having. 

Little man taking his time to capture the moment!

Despite the diminished numbers of birds it was still just as scenic and smelly, however we did spot an ingenious method of battling the smell… two sanitary devices inserted snugly up one’s nostrils... no kidding!

With time ticking we squeezed in a fab lunch at one of the wineries enroute to Auckland airport where we waved bon voyage to our little flying doctor.

Honey sampling at the vineyard

Muriwai Gannet Colony

Muriwai is yet again another beautiful scenic beach with black sand. It was late afternoon when we arrived and there were quite a few people already set up with their picnic chairs and cameras on tripods, so am guessing the sunset must be something to stick around for (another one for the ever growing to-do-list). A short walk from the car park took us to a couple of viewing platforms where you get up and personal with the nesting site of gannets. Minus the stinky poo smell, it was fabulous to get so close to these birds.

Unfortunately our initial timing was bad – not with the birds which were magnificent, but on our arrival to the look out deck which coincided with a coach load of tourists. You know the ones who swarm along in one big mass, mission to take as many photos as possible, every step, click click, click… people, animals, bugs, leaves, sky and grains of sand… all will be thoroughly documented and no one will stop them achieve their mission…. cross their path and be prepared to be trampled down. Anyone who knows me knows I am slightly… ok …very camera happy but they really do take it to another level. The good thing is that you know it’s relatively short lived and they do move on, so we just sat on the steps and let them buzz off to their new destination… and then quiet, it’s just you and the birds… and yes I did go quite camera happy at that point… at the birds I might add!

Before we headed off we popped down to the beach where Master S, as it seems to be turning into a regular occurrence, decided to get himself wet yet again, this time fully clothed… is there no stopping him? In my wicked way I told him that it was shame as we couldn’t now go to the burger bar for diner we were planning on going to as he was wet. Slightly gutted and trying his best to convince us that he would definitely be dry by the time we were back in Takapuna we headed back.

No burger for the boys, but after a quick shower and diner back at home, we told the boys to get changed out of their pjs and put some clothes on…and dragged two excited boys to our local ice cream parlor. Master J decided to opt out of the ice-cream and had what is called a “cronut” a cross between a donut and a croissant. All in all a lovey treat to end a fabulous day.