Led by Kay, our sweet little group of six people headed down onto the beach towards Motukaraka Island.  Possible to reach at low tide, this island is connected to the mainland by a submerged sandbar sitting off the coast of Beachlands. 

Once a fortified pa and home to several hundred people, it was invaded and it’s community massacred in the early 19^th century.  Uninhabited since then, it was briefly farmed by an early settler but was ravaged by fire in 1965 becoming what it is now a small scenic reserve. 

Circumnavigating the island at low tide via its cockle shell and rocky shoreline, our group nestled into the beach/tree line for a lively morning tea beside the abandoned wreck of a small boat. Following on we headed up nearby steps to explore the island itself, but eventually had to back track to our morning tea beach to tread the cockle highway once more leading back to our cars. 

A short drive later we parked at Maraetai Beach and briefly explored Dr Adah Platts-Mills Reserve, opposite the car park, also with an interesting history having been donated to the community by Doctor Platts-Mills.  Following the Omana Esplanade to Omana Regional Park we were amused to come across a sheep dip used in the mid 1940’s by the farmer who previously farmed what is now the Regional Park. 

A lovely day was had by all; culminating in coffee, cold drink, ice cream, ice block and general agreement that we were very lucky to live in our beautiful Auckland city. 

Deborah

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