This Past week I spent at the Wharakawa Estuary studing various vegetation communities. There was an incredible beach, just a 10 minute walk from the hostel where we stayed with gigantic waves and water so clear that you could see straight down to your feet.
The room I stayed in had 12 beds! it was so cool! Auntie Wendy this picture is just or you! ;-)
On the first day, we went on a hike up to the top of a Pa site, which is a large hill used as a fort for native people. It had terraces cut into the side, giving it a step like appearance. The trail was scattered with shells, which were remnants from the shell fish that were brought to the top to eat where they were protected form enemies.
Next, we did Kayak training and practiced flipping/rescuing. To get back into the kayak someone pulls your boat onto their own in order to get the water out. next, they steady it so you can scramble on from the back of the kayak. It was hysterical watching people flop their way back onto the kayak like seals.
while we were there, we went for an evening kayak to get a closer look at the vegetation communities. The sunsets were amazing!
A 4 ft long eel swam under my kayak, and we saw sting rays as big as large pizzas!
I gave 2 oral presentations this week!! One on the Ruru (a kind of owl) and the other on mangroves. I was really nervous, but they both went really well!
after a long week, a group of 17 of us went onto explore some of the beaches here on the north Island! First we went to hot water beach, where you can dig maybe 6 inches and you will find natural hot springs! it was insane. We laid in the steaming pool gazing up into the stars until the wee hours of the night!
Then we went to cathedral cove, which was the most beautiful beach I have ever been to! This picture is taken from underneath a large sweaping rock archway. We spent the day jumping off rocks and exploring caves along the waters edge.
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