OMANA PARK !

View of Rangitoto

Out into the sunshine for a day at Omanu Park. It has an intriguing name which is a shorthand version of O-Manawatere ("the dwelling place of Manawatere") a Ngai Tai pa site in the park. And the views are gorgeous!


Sophia and Trixie

One of those bright blue winter days - we did the perimeter walk and met Pixie,Dixie and Trixie ( the pet goats) and fed them bread.


View of Auckland & Sky Tower

Omana used to be a mission farm, in 1837, which explains the goats! It was one of the region's first farms. Around it, the forest was felled for timber, dug for kauri gum and even prospected for gold and silver.
Then in 1970 it became a regional park.




The walk took us through forest filled with native birds such as fantails (piwakawaka), grey warblers (riro riro), tui and native pigeon (kereru). Pukeko, spur winged plover and paradise shelducks (putangitangi) were roaming around the farmed area of the park. There was even a boardwalk through the mangroves.



The whole place is edged with white sand beaches, Kelly's Beach ( we wondered who she was) and seabirds flying over.We also spotted barbeques to come back for in the summer and hundreds of sheep. A gorgeous walk in the sunshine..



Then down to the beach at Maraetai for one of those awesome ice-creams - and it's winter!!