Musings, Poetry, Road Trips

A Day in the Life: Scenic Walks and Nature Tales

Suzanne

It’s spring here in Aotearoa, and the weather is consistent in its unpredictability. We ventured away for a few days to stay with Nessie (a gorgeous corgi) and her human Mum, who live in the Hawkes Bay; the temperature was 28c and sunny on arrival. Today, here in Tauranga, we will be lucky if we reach 17c with showers.

Apart from the reserve itself, what also captured my eye was the prolific number of roses spilling out from neighbouring properties. Just gorgeous.

During our stay in another Bay, we enjoyed walking on various tracks, which were very pleasant and repeated throughout our time there. Some were uphill, while others suited Les more, with paths meandering underneath bright green foliage from various deciduous trees. Some strolls included the company of an adorable dog named Nessie.

Numerous plantings of exotic and native trees were across the park, with the tracks on the outer slopes winding through rich native bush, home to native birds, including Piwakawaka, Kereru, and Tui.

Absolutely no enhancement; the foliage was that bright. A tranquil space amongst the trees.
I captured these two who were trying to avoid me doing so. You’d think they would be used to it by now.
This is a small section of the Dolbel Reserve. Numerous tracks meandered around the reserve, and as many took me up and around the hill.

Snippet of History

Phillip, Richard, and Charles Dolbel arrived in New Zealand from Jersey in 1855. Phillip and Richard brought land in Hawkes Bay, including land near Taradale, which became Springfield and Redclyffe Stations. Part of this land is now Dolbel Reserve. Nowadays, the reserve is well cared for by various organisations and a band of local nature enthusiasts.

The council set up a fun activity: having a cardboard stash to enjoy a bumpy ride down the grassy slopes. Now, if my dodgy back had been more agreeable, I would’ve ventured down on a piece of cardboard just for the hell of it.
Due to the limited space on this site for numerous images, I have to share reels/images from Instagram. Head here to view the vistas from the summit and other trails.

On our last morning and during our goodbyes, the weather reminded us that spring was still upon us with a sprinkling of rain. 

Drum roll sounds
on a windless day
The birds flapping
like a tuneless song
Trying to keep in time
With you.
As if the ground had pores,
they opened up
and swallowed you.
The trees collected you
as if you didn't once exist.
The special smell of you
when the sun cakes
the ground.
Even if I could not hear,
smell or feel or see
you would still be there
raining.


Another post on Hawkes Bay can be read here:  A Classic Road Trip.
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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

43 thoughts on “A Day in the Life: Scenic Walks and Nature Tales”

    1. Yes, I have vague memories of screaming wildly and laughing while going downwards. I thought it was a brilliant idea having cardboard available. It was well used by the number of children and adults on the hillside.

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  3. New Zealand is so beautiful. I have been four times; wish it wasn’t such a trek from Perth (Western Australia), I would so love to go there again. Kate.

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    1. Thanks Cathy, the roses love the cold of winter and the dry hot summers of the East Coast. We have too much humidity here in the Bay of Plenty for roses to do well when summer arrives. I really enjoyed the relaxing walks up and around the hills.

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    1. It was a lovely break, thanks Anabel. Yes, I know what Scottish summers are like. Surprisingly, we became accustomed to them very easily and thought when it reached 19 degrees, it was a heatwave.

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    1. I used to do hill sliding when younger. This area is green for a short while, and then the usual dry and hot summer will change the environment dramatically. The Hawke’s Bay is on the East Coast of the North Island. We live approx 3.5 hours drive away in another Bay.

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