.: Tiritiri Island

Monday, November 14, 2011

Tiritiri Island

We have a lovely Missionary couple in our Ward named Elder and Sister Rowe. They are from Utah and are serving a 2 yr mission at the church offices in Takapuna.

One Sunday Elder Rowe happened to mention to Tony that he really wanted to go to Tiritiri Island. He had heard how beautiful it was and that people from all over the world come to NZ specifically wanting to see it.

Tony and I were also keen to explore Tiri and as My mum's partner, Peter, is a volunteer tour guide on the Island, we made arrangements to go together and have Peter as our guide.

Some interesting facts about Tiri Tiri Island;
*The name of the Island 'Tiritiri Matangi' means tossed by the wind.
*It is one of the world’s most successful volunteer conservation projects.
*It's an open nature reserve that is completely pest-free.
*It has been re-vegetated with around 300,000 native trees.
*It has 12 of New Zealand’s endangered birds.
*It has wildlife such as the Little Blue Penguin (the world’s smallest penguin), the Little Spotted Kiwi, and the Tuatara.
*Tiritiri Matangi Island lies in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, 4 km (2.5 mi) east of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the North Island and 30 km (19 mi) north east of Auckland.
*There is a small bunkhouse on the island that is used mostly by volunteers and researchers but visitors can book to stay a night provided they have sleeping bags and food.

The ferry that goes from the city to Tiri:

Hayden and Ashton came with us:

The Island from the wharf:

Ashton, Me, Peter, Elder and Sister Rowe & Hayden:

Peter begins the tour and explains some history about the Island:

Ashton looking into the nesting box at the little blue penguins:

Little holes in the sand made by kiwis beaks when they come out at night to look for food:

Peter stops to share some stories. We like to refer to Peter as a walking encyclopedia! He has a wealth of knowledge and many great stories to share about the native trees and birds:

Tony on the trail:

NZ silver fern:

NZ Kowhai (known as our national flower):

Ashton looking for birds (note-we did see about 4 native birds, but I didn't get good enough photo's to put on here):

Hayden walking the trail:

Tiri Lighthouse:

Me & Tony with the boys:

Elder and Sister Rowe:

NZ Takahe:

Heading back to the ferry:

Scenic shots around the Island:

Some birds on the Island that unfortunately we didn't get to see on the day. These are taken from Peter's album:
Bellbird

NZ Tui

NZ Pigeon

A Saddleback:

A Stitchbird:

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Great post Loretta love it
Julia; December 4, 2011 at 2:10 PM

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Funny Comments

Ashton walking into the supermarket quietly whispers to himself: "Please can I have macaroni and cheese, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Ashton: "I want to live with Jesus." Mummy: "Why?" Ashton: "Because he be nice to me and he gives me bread and water!"

Mummy, examining Ashton's legs, and thinking: My goodness, what hairy legs. Ashton, unimpressed with Mummy's examination, pulls away: "Don't touch them. I'm growing Daddy legs!"

Hayden gets upset at Ashton: "Right Ashton, that's it! I'm telling Jesus on you!"

Ashton with a cold: "I'm snotty as a piggy."

Hayden: "The sun is burning my eyeballs."

Hayden: "Mummy, how come your penis is missing?"

Hayden: "I get the bigger piece of cake because my skeleton is bigger."

Hayden (3yrs old) sees me get dressed in the morning and stares at my breasts with a confused look..."What thooooose be for???"

Hayden: "I don't want to finish my pizza, it's got blood all over it."

Hayden: "Ashton hit me in the heart."

Hayden learns the planets at Preschool: Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Penus!

Hayden (shopping with me and whining): "My brain hurts forever because you haven't buyed me anything."

QUOTES

Like the changing leaves of fall...My little boy is now a man.
--Author Unknown

Boys are God's way of telling you that your house is too neat!
--Author Unknown

There never has been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son.
--Author Unknown

Boys are found everywhere - on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
--Alan Marshall Beck

Something For A Giggle....

I Owe My Mother ....

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!