Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve
Another one of the Department of Conservation's great efforts to restore and conserve the New Zealand wildlife. Located in Tuitira about 1hour from Napier on the East Coast of the North Island. To get there, take the Napier Taupo Rd until it splits into two, Taupo to the left and Gisborne straight through. Stay on the road to Gisborne till eventually you will come to Lake Tuitira on your right then turn left straight after the shop which is on your left again. A few km down this Rd is an intersection at which there are signs directing you to each of the tracks in the area.
Shine Falls
At one end of the Boundary Stream Reserve is Shine Falls. At 58m high it is
the highest fall in Hawkes Bay, but what is special about it is the way the
water falls!! My photo doesn't really do it justice, (but that's just cause
I did not want to get wet).
On the spot where I took this photo is a picnic table surrounded by trees
and birds, so you can sit down, have lunch with the family in view of the
falls and enjoy the sound of the running water.
One of the birds you can expect to see in the area is the Shining Cuckoo, I
was surprised at the abundance of these birds in the area.
The Shining Cuckoo
Abundant at Boundary Stream, characteristic striping on the chest and
shining green wings. Photo: Courtesy of
'The Reed Field Guide to New Zeeland Native Birds'
The North Island Brown Kiwi
Boundary
Stream is also one of the few places
left inthe North Island where, (if you are
lucky) you can still find the Brown Kiwi.
The Kiwi is a New Zealand Native
flightless bird, and by native I mean they do not exist anywhere else in the
world!! These birds are nocturnal, (sleep by day, work by night) and have
very poor eyesight which is compensated by very powerful hearing and smell.
You may never get to see one in the wild, I hardly know any New Zealanders who have but you can see some in captivity in nocturnal houses in some reserves, but even there you have to be equipped with a lot of patience to be able to spot them running around.
Photo: Courtesy of 'Penguin Pocket Guides: New
Zealand's Native Birds of Bush and Countryside
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Last Update
18 Feb 2007