Seals at the Mount

It's Spring time, and it seems that the babes are born at this time of the year. I was fortunate to watch a family of seals (mostly napping, sun bathing on the rocks, and being bothered by the sea gulls). I noticed that seals sleep on their back. The pup also seems to have hair/fur.

Sleeping baby seal

More sleeping seals... Mama seal looks like the dark one.

Annoying seagull waking them up to play.

Grooming time

Adorable lambs...

Baby seal swimming

World Cup here we come...

We finally got our official tickets to watch the Canadian Rugby team play at the 2011 World Cup. They will be playing against France, Tonga, Japan and New Zealand.

Our first All Blacks experience was quite an experience. We also heard for the first time the Kiwi's national anthem. The display of fireworks left us in awe. Nothing beats the experience of watching the All Blacks do the Hakka live. It left me astonished and adrenaline pumped. Unfortunately, we did not have the greatest seats (we weren't even sitting - lesson learned)! Result 29:10 (All Blacks v Wales)

Anyway, enjoy the videos.

Maclaren Falls

The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation. There were small waterfalls and rocky pools. We also encountered a rooster at the parking lot guarding our car!

He couldn't possibly shoo away the rooster!

Te Rerekawau Falls (aka Kaiate Falls)

This area was probably the shortest track (about 30 minutes). There are many swimming holes and small waterfalls. At the bottom of the loop was a waterfall of about 7 feet high. Brodie was brave enough to jump off and swim the cold water.

Can you see Brodie?

Ananui Falls

The track was about 4 hours walk (return). We could not get to the bottom of the falls, but was able to walk all the way to the summit where we saw lush forest and the Mount (where we live).

At the top of the falls.

Bottom of the falls.

Wairere Falls

The Wairere Falls track was about 4 hour walk round trip. The falls is about 153 m high, has a fine grove of nikau, puriri and kohekohe, and an upper section of track takes you through tree ferns and totara in native forest. The falls lookout and summit has amazing views of the valley and the Waikato Plains.

Water Falls of Bay of Plenty

We have visited most of Bay of Plenty's water falls. The water was certainly cold (brr) but with 3mm wet suite, it was tolerable.

Whataroa waterfalls - favourite spot - about an hour loop into the Rimu Loop Walk , one would reach the falls of Whataroa waterfalls. There are many swimming holes around this track. Kiwis pronounce "Wh" as "F". The predominant trees around this mountain is called "Rimu" where the loop walk was named after. Rimu forms a very tall forest canopy tree growing to a height of more than 35-50 metres with a wide distribution throughout New Zealand.