I introduced my wife Petra to Birdlings Flat. We started with a visit to Taumutu, at the southwest end of Kaitorete Spit (although Kaitorete Barrier Beach is a more accurate term for this enormous 25 kilometres long gravel bank). Taumutu is a rural district on the coast, the other end of Lake Ellesmere from the Birdlings Flat village.
The late winter’s afternoon was cold and windy so we had to wrap up warmly when we ventured onto the beach. We spent maybe only 30 to 40 minutes there before needing to retreat to the car to escape the chilling of the onshore wind. We managed to walk up and down the beach in both directions and collect a few stones. These were similar to those found anywhere along this stretch of coastline, including quartzites and agates.
We crossed this bridge to get to the beach – it had been undermined by a recent flood
Looking southwest upon arriving at the beach
Looking eastwards out to sea
Taking a photo of Petra taking a photo – looking northeast back towards Banks Peninsula and Birdlings Flat
A beach full of stones, the largest above the high tide mark, the smallest closer to the surfline
Taumutu Beach stones
A digger working on a trench to the sea to lower the level of Lake Ellesmere
Just across the road from where we parked the car
Author: tumblestoneblog
Retired Academic, male, living in the New Zealand countryside near Whanganui with his wife as well as Jasper the dog, Fluffy the cat, Dancer and Penny, the horses, and a shed half-full of stones. Email john.tumblestone@gmail.com.
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