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Mini-METHS – Collingwood, Golden Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Thursday 4th March – Monday 8th March, 2021

 

 

Participants:  Jean (Cheeky) Hayward (leader), Mike (Mad) & Verena (Muesli) Petzold, Neil (Bwana Nilo) & Sue (Donna Suzi) Stiles

 

I‘m wondering if this is one of very few reports on past Meets in the last umpteen months.  We feel very fortunate that we have the freedom to continue getting out and about in our wonderful outdoors.

Following our enjoyable stay at the Department of Conservation cottage in Collingwood last year, we chose to stay at this beautiful location again.  The beach is right in front of the house and high tide coincided each afternoon with our return from our walks so that we could enjoy a refreshing swim.

This time we explored the vast Wharariki Beach and Hilltop walk, stopping along the way to watch baby seals frolicking in the rock pools.  They were being watched over by a single adult.  We also explored the western side of Farewell Spit, up to Fossil Point.  Didn’t see many fossils though!

Neil and Jean explored the Milnthorpe Park, an area that has been rejuvenated from being degraded coastal land to a lush forest by introducing hardy Australian eucalyptus and acacia which provided rich humus and a canopy to allow native species to be introduced.  The project has taken 40 years and has proved to be a success.  Mike and Verena explored this area last year.

Another successful rejuvenation area is at Mangarakau Swamp on the west coast.  This was where there was a factory making flax ropes for the sailing ships, as well as some gold and coal mining and the inevitable timber removal.  All that has gone now, as well as the small settlement, and the area is being allowed to revert to its original state.

Once again, a convivial time was had by all, as well as Scrabble and Most being hotly contested in the evenings.

Our plan is to return to this spot again for next year’s Mini-METHS meet — provisional dates 24th— 28th February 2022.  We plan to go up Mt Burnett next time.

Jean (Cheeky) Hayward

 

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1.  Mother seal, watching the kids in the pools.

2.  Wharariki Beach.

3.  A couple of Methophiles enjoying the tops.

4.  The rejuvenated Milnthorpe forest.

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5.  A wonderful stand of nikau palms.

6.  Verena, Neil and Sue at Fossil Point.

7.  Tide's out on the southern side of Farewell Spit.  To explore further along here to the vast bird colony, you
      have to take a tour, as there are patches of quicksand along there.
      Neil reported spotting black flamingos here.  Yeah, right.

8.  Kotuku/white heron, sacred to the Maori.  A rare sighting.

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9.  Mangarakau swamp.

10.  The New Zealand chapter of METHS members.  (Andrew was on a fishing trip)

11.  The view across to Farewell Spit from our accommodation.  There used to be a wharf here for the
        Nelson ferry before the road was built over the Takaka Hill.  Great swimming at high tide.

 

 

 

 

 

© WDYFO, 2021