We saw (and smelled) the gannets as much as we wanted, with their newly hatched chicks so fluffy and cute to look at and were even able to sneak in some sand castle building and to play on the beach.
‘Muriwai Beach remains up to this day one of my favourite spots in Auckland.’
By Mavis Bacaltos
AUCKLAND – We had an unplanned trip to the Muriwai Gannet colony one weekend. As always, the fine weather was the deciding factor. As we came out of Chipmunks after attending a children’s party, the sun was shining so brightly that I thought it would finally be a good time to fulfil one of my son’s birthday wishes; to go bird watching.
I’m not sure where he got this notion to go bird watching, but for someone who just turned five it seems to be a bit out of character. But as he kept asking about it, I remembered that there is a gannet colony in Muriwai, so we didn’t need to travel far.
He also watches a TV show called ‘Takapu, the Gannet of the South Seas’, with some scenes actually shot in Muriwai, so I thought it would be a good idea to bring him there.
My first visit to Muriwai Beach was totally unplanned as well. We were planning to go to Kare-Kare Beach, where they shot the movie ‘The Piano’, but I think when we asked for directions at the petrol station that we were given instructions to go to Keri-Keri up north instead. Talk about lost in translation!
The Indian attendant must have thought we were looking for Keri-Keri in Northland, as he directed us that way. And against my better judgement, we followed his directions too!
So I was looking at the map and I had a sinking feeling that we really were traversing the wrong path, so we decided to ask for help again, not from a petrol attendant this time, but from a local who was filling up.
He was utterly amused at us two ladies as we told him where we wanted to go. He kindly told us that we were very far from where we wanted to go, but directed us to a nearer and easier to find beach.
He told us that Muriwai Beach was very interesting, with surf waves and black volcanic sand. And I still thank him for pointing us in that direction, as Muriwai Beach remains up to this day one of my favourite spots in Auckland.
Although the waves and rips can be dangerous to the unwary swimmer, and to pieces of loose swim wear (as I found out one time), its unique beauty both for bird watchers and beach goers is hard to beat.
Even if my visit that recent weekend was also unplanned, it was still a very enjoyable one.
We saw (and smelled) the gannets as much as we wanted, with their newly hatched chicks so fluffy and cute to look at and were even able to sneak in some sand castle building and to play on the beach.
On our way home, we stopped by a strawberry shop and ended our hectic day with scoops of fresh strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries and I thought to myself, sometimes, the best trips are those which are unplanned.
HOW TO GET TO MURIWAI BEACH:
Follow State Highway 16 to Waimauku. Turn left into Muriwai Rd and continue to the park. Distance from Auckland CBD: 45 km. A windswept rugged coastline, 60km of surf beach and rolling dunes of black sand characterise Muriwai Beach.
