Leaving the cabbage palms behind, we reach the beach proper. The first thing that struck me was the immensity of the place: the soaring hills in mist, a desert of black sand that is a reminder of KareKare’s volcanic past.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Cabbage Palms
Continuing on our journey to Karekare beach…
We cross the black sand dunes, through strands of cabbage palms. The black sand is a muddy black after the week’s rains, but on a summer’s day the quartz glitters and becomes positively scorching.
Kanuka Glade
Getting to KareKare Beach from the carpark involves a bit of a walk. Firstly under a canopy of kanuka (or tea tree to us Aussies).
The Strength of Water
I watched a delightful film at the Sydney Film Festival last week called The Strength of Water. It’s about two Maori kids growing up in remote Northland.
It’s wonderful what can be done with non-professional actors, especially children. In this film the film-makers really brought out the best in them and the landscape they inhabited.
It brings to mind all the strikingly beautiful places I visited last October on my journey around Northland, where the film was shot, particularly Hokianga and the West Auckland black sand beaches. To illustrate, here are my two favourite shots from the trip:
At the head of Hokianga Harbour.
Driftwood on KareKare Beach, west of Auckland.
Moon Set at Sunrise
Scrambled out into the cold morning last week to see the full moon set at sunrise. I love the light of the rising sun reflecting on the neighbouring houses. Makes the numb fingers and toes worth it.
All is Calm
All is calm at twilight. The water is still. The pool a mirror. The leaves hold their breath as we walked by. Only the birds awaken from their noon slumber, foraging against time before the sun and the cold sets in.
Banksia Study
The banksias are flowering in force in the national park. I spotted a few different varieties around. I don’t know their scientific names so I will call them as I see them.
The tall, orange one.
The short, yellow one.
The stubby orange one.
Cool Karloo
We crossed Kangaroo Creek for the final time, at beautiful Karloo Pool. The sun was just setting as we passed, and the water was a translucent green.
It was incredible how much the water level had risen in the six months since my last visit. The lower rock platforms were completely covered with water, so perhaps the increase was 30cm or more.
In the middle of the drought the creek bed so dry that you could step over the stream. Last Sunday, you had to take off your shoes to get across, or if you choose to keep them on, step very carefully.
I hope the water stays around until my next visit next summer.
Twists and Turns
On the walk, I passed trees of all different shapes.
I love the shape of their branches, twisting and turning into the air.
This one in particular had spectacular branches.
Wildflowers
Early winter means a profusion of wildflowers in Sydney (so is it really winter?). The most common ones are the grevillea…
The tea tree…
And the wattle.
Static and Silence 