Down Under in New Zealand: April 1st - Shakespear Regional Park

April 1st was our last day trip out.  It couldn't have been a nicer day, the sun was shining and the sky an amazing blue and it was of course wonderfully warm.    Today we went to Shakespear Regional Park on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.  It has been surrounded by a huge 1.7km predator fence and work on eradicating pests and keeping them out of the park has been going on since 2011.  In 2011 when we last went there, work had just begun. 

The view of Rangitoto in the distance, Mum grew up with this iconic landmark.

She told me a rhyme or song they used to sing when she was at school

'Three little chimney pots, sitting on Rangitoto...they all blew up, never to blow again'

Mum stayed at Motutapu Island, just behind Rangitoto when a child and has walked up this volcano.

The beach is lovely, wonderful soft sand and beautiful blue clear water.

I very much enjoyed strolling along the beach, looking for sea shells.

What could be nicer?

Just wandering, dreaming and taking in the wonderful fresh clean air.  No noise apart from nature doing its work.  

My Nan & Pop enjoyed their walk as well.

Of course there was the fabulous bird life as well.

Oyster Catchers

Dotterels

Reflections

Another glimpse of Rangitoto from a different angle

In pairs, walking side by side

Searching for food.

Putting on a show

Who you trying to impress?

There are some wonderful walks that we have done in the past, but not this time, we just kept to the easy beach and off beach track.

The area is steeped in history.

Parkland

Bush

There are information and warning signs up, requesting you take care of the bush.

Maps of various walks.

We decide to go on this walk.

I enjoyed walking through the lovely native bush

So peaceful and nice and shaded after the heat of the sun.

Strolling along the boardwalk

Marvelling at the plants

Discovering holes, nooks and crannies

Which of course had to be peered in.

Hello, anyone at home?

It seems not.

I wander on.

We come to a little waterfall, that had no water!  The summer has just been too dry.

Chatting

Posing!

Just a hint of a trickle may be?

Back along the track we go.

Reflections.

A series of information boards.

We got to see...the Tui, the New Zealand Wood Pigeon

Paradise Ducks, Pukeko

Part of the park was acquired b the army during WWII and the end of the peninsula was an important defence site during the war.  The arm constructed a range of defences including pill boxes, searchlights, electrified barbed wire entanglements and an anti-tank ditch.  Some of these still remain and are highlighted on the heritage trail, which unfortunately we couldn't do this time.  The Ministry of Defence still continues to use some of the adjacent land.

These information signs tell us about the fences and defences in the past and present.

We were lucky enough to see this little Grey Warbler

Pukeko

The fabulous Tui

The NZ Wood Pigeon enjoying the flowers/fruits of the Cabbage Tree