The Traveling Kiwi

I have looked at Otanewainuku so many times and wondered what the view would be like looking back to Rotorua. It’s a native bush reserve, home to kiwi and Kokako. Head north and turn off the main road about 20 min out of Tauranga, then wind your way down a long gravel road to the scenic reserve. The mountain trail offered a 45 min walk up and 45 back, the anticlockwise route was shorter which meant steeper and it was, clambering up steps cut in the mud and tree root stairs, thank goodness for the shade. Earlier showers had dampened the track and if you stopped you could hear the light crackle of rain falling through the canopy. The first thing you notice are the huge huge trees and the supple jack vines. The north island bush robin would hop out on the track and happily dig in the leaf litter just a few meters away. Tui’s flitted in and out and you could hear the Kereru diving into the pigeon wood for the fat orange berries.

Travelling back via Te Puke just had to stop and pick Boysenberries. I love boysenberries and I confess I ate as many as I collected. There is nothing that says summer more than sun warmed ripe berries mmmm mmm mmm, to say nothing of juice stained fingers and clothes. Am I the only one who can’t eat berries without wearing some of them? A stop in Te Puke to wash off the evidence showed off some awesome street art.

~ by kiwikris on December 30, 2021.

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