Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Egmont National Park survey

As a regular Park user DOC want to hear from you. They are looking to close tracks, huts, centres (ie save money) and believe the residents of Taranaki have little interest in the park. Let them know your thoughts.......

Thursday, November 21, 2013

1st December change

Another change of plan: unfortunately Jacqui & Neil are not available for the Puniho holes explore on 1st Dec so we'll do it in Jan/Feb instead

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Purangi Trip 17th Nov



What a wonderful day at Purangi. Thank you Len P for an awesome Safari.
The ETET ( Eastern Taranaki Environment Trust) aka Bob & Karen Schumacher have a wonderful property just past Purangi on Aukawa Rd.
We started our adventure after lunch at the Field Centre, and the first thing we hear is the Californian Quail barking at us from a nearby shrub, memories of our childhood come to the fore as we remember hearing these birds many years ago.
Off we go following a farm track, then up into the hills. Bob shows us the workings of the new possum traps attached to the trees.” Just what we need to keep the vermin away”.
Tui’s and Pigeons fly overhead and little Tom Tits flitter around.
 Further up we passed’ Bobs well-conditioned Red Devon Cows and Calves and the newly pruned Trees to find the QEII section of the land. This is quite spectacular; there are many species of native trees, orchid’s, shrubs and ferns. They are all in healthy order and even the Gigi’s are in flower.
We spent a wonderful afternoon taking photos, identifying plants, listening and watching the birds, and Hilary was especially lucky to find a broken Tui Egg on the ground.
WE were also shown how the Kiwi are located with the transmitter device, unfortunately we could only listen to the beeps because as everyone knows Kiwi sleep in the day time. Perhaps we can come another time at night and listen to them call and maybe, just maybe see one.
Thank you Bob for taking us around and waiting for us to arrive, we finished our safari with tea in New Plymouth and a leisurely drive home.
This place is a great credit to Bob and Karen and I don’t think we realise just how much hard work and dedication goes into making an environment like this happen. Fantastic we will be back!!
Those that went Len P, Len A, Sharon, Hilary & Newton.

Gigi flower spike