Pararaha Adventure

Our first unexpected meeting was with a little Green and Golden Bell Frog, an introduced species that inhabits ponds and marshlands in these upper North Island regions. Their breeding season begins around late spring to early summer, and by January the swamplands along the coast between Whatipu and Karekare are full of tadpoles! A little further along the beach, the girls came across a seal, which had died of unknown causes and washed ashore. This was definitely turning into a fantastic nature study field trip, which more than justified the two girls’ day off school!

Shellfish have been protected on Karekare beach for some time now, and finally they are re-establishing themselves. One of the girls is fascinated by how they cling to pieces of driftwood that lay scattered along the sands, adding to the variety of textures that imprint on your senses as you take in the breathtaking beauty of this place

The main concentrations of the birds are now to be found on coastal lakes and lagoons around the South Island and in the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay in the North Island, as well as inland lakes in the Waikato and Rotorua. Nesting habits depend upon the locality and food supply. The black swan is very aggressive when defending its territory and nest from intruders, including other swans. Only about one in five of New Zealand’s black swans nests in any year, and no more than a third of the birds present at any breeding area attempt to nest. The birds heap available plant material, usually rushes, in piles and line it with down. Usually, five or six greenish white eggs are laid, and incubation, by both parents, takes about five weeks. The newborn cygnets are led to the water within 24 hours of hatching. For most of their life prior to breeding, black swans seem to leave the place where they were born for marine and estuarine habitats. Many of the Waikato birds make for the harbours and these west coastlands of Northland.

The winter rains had left the track through the bush somewhat muddy, but the feel of soft mud squishing between your toes is by no means unpleasant! At one point it was necessary to cross the Pararaha Stream. The place where the track crossed was easy enough and only just above the knees in depth, but I thought it prudent at the time to wait until everyone was safely across before letting them know of the eels that inhabit those waters!

About 20 minutes up the track, we arrived at the Pararaha campsite and made ourselves comfortable at the Les Ward shelter where we had lunch. Again, because of the heavy winter rains experienced on the West Coast, the area was pretty boggy in places, but we were able to have a brief explore of the campsite area and the river before making our way back the way we came. In the middle of summer this valley is an idyllic getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life and has been one of my favourite camping spots for many years.