Matakana Extravaganza

4th June 2009.
Today I had Hayden and Cameron from Tauranga and Paul and Azamia from Austria for our Matakana Extravaganza Tour. WE meet at Pilot Bay at 9am and after our safety briefing and a short lesson on paddling technique we were off, paddling over to Matakana Island. The day was perfect with very little wind producing very glassy calm water conditions. We took our time and I informed our friends from Austria a little bit about the local history and culture of our beautiful city. As mentioned the water conditions were perfect and we were able to see plenty of piper and kahawai swimming in the shallows.

Janie was there as always to great us on our arrival at the island and she soon had them loaded in her van and off they went for their horse trek adventure. As I do most times I got back on the water and headed up the harbour to look for more wild life. I am glad I did as it wasn't long before I came across dozens upon dozens of stingrays. I was letting the tide take me right over groups of three or four sunning themselves in the shallows while at the same time witnessing another three or four gliding through the water towards me. At the same time there were dozens of fish swimming underneath me as well.

When Janie returned I offered them the opportunity to experience the stingrays. I was uncertain if there would be as many as the tide had come in but we soon came across them. Not as many as before but definitely enough to have an amazing encounter. It was soon time to head back so off we went.

Glow Worm Tour

22nd May 2009
Today we had Paul, Sonny and their children Mia, Oscar and Daisy who wanted to do the Glow Worm Tour at McLaren Falls Park. We used two double kayaks and with a large center hatch we were able to put a the two smallest in their own little cockpit. It was a great night and as always after the kayak I offered them the opportunity to take a short walk to see the glow worms up close where you actually get to see the worm and their silk web. They had quite a busy day but Mia and his her Paul were keen to go exploring while mum and the two younger ones kept warm in the van. As always we found the native New Zealand Silver Fern and carried on to where the glow worms were where they got to opportunity to have a close encounter.

Glow Worm Tour

23rd May 2009
Received a call from an associate who was unable to take a family on the Glow Worm Tour so he asked if I could do it. Obviously I said I would so I picked Paul, Sonny and their three children, Mia, Oscar and Daisy up from the Harbourside City Backpackers and headed out to McLaren Falls Park. The center hatch on our kayaks is perfect for smaller children so I threw Mia and Oscar in with me and Sonny, Paul and Daisy went in a second double kayak. It was another beaurtifyul evening ont he lake and the glow worms didn't dissapoint.

After the kayak, as always I offered the option of the walk where you can get up clsoe to the glow worms