abtc glendowie

Sixteen people turned up to be shown around the Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve in
Glendowie by a guest guide, who was involved with a local group caring for this
reserve and its wildlife.

From The Bracken we drove to the end of West Tamaki Road, where we met up with our guide
Colin who gave us an introductory talk on the reserve. He then showed us the waterfowl
pond and told us how such ponds could be made by damming stormwater, resulting in a
habit where such waterbirds as ducks, pukekos and bitterns visit and/or breed. Other
ponds close by include the Michaels Avenue Reserve and Waiatarua Reserve, both in
Ellerslie/St Johns.

We then went out to the start of the estuary and saw a one-metre “cliff” face which had
over recent years retreated due to erosion in stormy weather.

We returned to the waterfowl pond and walked through to the brackish ponds to the
beach on the northern side of the reserve. We walked all the way out to the end of the
beach, and out along the sandspit as far as we could go - about halfway between Tahuna
Torea reserve and Buckland’s Beach! Colin told us a story of a Maori warrior was killed
in a fight at this point early last century.

We returned along the beach then explored the bush walk, with one or two lookouts over
the reserve, before returning to the cars.

Everyone was grateful for a very informative afternoon.

COST: $1-20.