We spent the whole day birdwatching today. There is a coastline nearby all Along the Thames Firth. It has bird wetlands and reserves. Miranda is the seabird Centre. We travelled up from Thames to Clevedon, south of Auckland, where we had lunch and then back.

We saw hundreds of sea birds, no exaggeration, and more herons than I’ve ever seen. Hundreds of pied oyster catchers and some other types like a stilt and New Zealand kingfisher. The Shags were in trees on rocks and very photogenic. We enjoyed ourselves so much. The shoreline is of shells and pebbles all mixed up and the a strip of gravelly sand. It goes on for many miles.

It is wonderful to see nature in all its natural surroundings untouched by man. There are a few small villages and one or two grocery shops but not much more.

Not sure what to do on our last day tomorrow before we move to Tauranga. (Nice road and about 90 minutes drive away)

There is so much we’d like to visit again!

Hope back to school was ok lily and Otis. Louis you have another week in Pornic before school!

How is the dissertation going Anona? And my baby grandchildren Xavi and Alice you will have grown so much I’m sure!

Love you all

Grandmaxxxx