Cape Foulwind & Granity

 

The forecast looked good for getting some walks in today. We started with the Kawatiri River Trail and boardwalk - so pretty. This walking and cycling trail connects all the little settlements along the coast, about 55k's of track and all maintained by marvellous volunteers. We just dipped our toes on the track with the small section we did today. 

We set off with overcast skies but it was warm and very still. The Talley's fish processing plant near the river /  harbour entrance was busy, busy, busy and you could certainly smell eau de poisson.  As with most little fishing marinas there's always a boat or two that has seen better days.  

We walked to the Lost Lagoon Bridge and then on to the harbour bar entrance. 

There were lots of fisho's out today catching Gurnard in the river mouth and Snapper on the beach/sea side. The bar was calm with flat water and the sun was beginning to burn through the clouds. The brass plaques to all those who had lost their life crossing the bar were a sobering reminder at the end of the breakwater.  Today it was so calm that even the beach side surfer gals and guys were struggling for wave action. 

Time to cross the river by road bridge and head south to Cape Foulwind. No foul winds today, just glorious sunshine and cheeky Weka forraging for food and even taking a nibble out of our hands.  There were some terrific views from the lighthouse track, the cliffs looking weather battered and chalky. 

After Cape Foulwind we set off for Tauranga Bay and the little seal colony. The wind was distinctively wiffy here - there's a whole lot of seal action going on once you got your eye in. Lots of little seal pups struggling on the rocks under the watchful eye of their mummas.  Watching the adult seals surf into the rocky shore so elegantly and then lumber across the rocks to check on the pups was fantastic - you could spend hours watching this from viewing platforms which were all at a safe distance from the action. 

We noted  a theme in naming the towns on the West Coast so far - Westport - the port on the west coast, makes sense. Cape Foulwind named by Captain Cook because of the terrible weather they experienced when sailing along this coast.  Next stop Granity, named by gold prospectors  in reference to the large quantity of granite in the area.  Long known as a coal mining town, Granity is a shadow of its former self. 

The mining industry is on the decline and most of the little mining settlements now have the feel of ghost towns.  They do however have fantastic colour sense with their house painting.