Kaitarakihi in the Manuka - Something Different to Explore

On 4th May 2017 we went to Kaitarakihi in the Manuka where I have never been before.

After a long drive of more than 15 minutes (which at home would get you to at least 10 different beaches) we finally arrived and were the only ones there - I can so relate to that :)

The sand was different from what I see all the time at home, more like very small pebles that are not small enough to be grains of sand yet. The tide was close to the low and the beach and rocks were exposed as can be seen in the photo above. Now don't those rock pools look interesting?

Marine Life
Wandering out and looking around highlighted for me the lack of marine life here, with rock pools being mainly deviod of critters - didn't even see the usual photobombers that lurk in most rock pools at home - common triple fins and glass shrimps!

Finding rocks to turn over was a mission as well as there are not many loose rocks here. However, when we did finally find a rock to turn over that was a whole new world! At home, as there are so many rocks, if you turn over one the chances are very high that you will see at least 5 chitons and one crab. However here when you turn over a rock there are tens of crabs all gathered together - probably because there are not many rocks so they all have to share here! There were alot of the New Zealand Half Crab (Petrolisthes elongatus) which I am not familiar with so seeing those was great - and getting good photos as they scurry away took a bit of practice.

There was also a meadow of Eelgrass (Zostera muelleri ssp. novozelandica) and that was great to see as there is only one place where I have seen a medow at home and it is not one of the places I frequent alot.

My marine find of the day was seeing Sertularia unguiculata which looks like a feather but is a plant. Even though it was washed up seeing something new was exciting!

Plant Life
The cliffs beside the beach was a great world to explore - and it if a good thing I had a guide as I would have missed all of the amazing plants and locations. Seeing Jointed Wire Rush (Apodasmia similis)- and this is a plant I "know" - growing on a cliff face and not on coastal dunes is something I would have totally missed if @pjd1 did not point it out to me as well as 2 amazing liverworts that have stunning patterns as can be see in the selection below.

The plant find of the day for me was the new spider orchid that grows on a cliff face where there is run off and by seeing the plant and the location I will now be checking out those places at home when I return.

Posted on May 10, 2017 12:50 AM by tangatawhenua