In Napier, our second port, we scheduled a Gannet Safari tour to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Yes, when we scheduled this trip, we didn't know exactly what a gannet was, nor, did we know that most of the drive would be on unpaved, uneven graveled road!
First thing we see once on the Cape Kidnappers property, is an almost dry creek bed, yet a quite pretty view. At this point, the road is still paved and well maintained! The property is owned by an American billionaire who bought tens of thousands of acres of property to make sure it is preserved.
The cliffs on the eastern coast of Cape Kidnappers property (and the east coast of New Zealand), show the striations of earth's ever evolving crusts. Where the lines don't match reflects earthquakes and the shifting of tectonic plates.
Atop these cliffs is the plateau gannet colony, the biggest known to exist on the mainland. When not in flight, the birds don't appear to have the 6' wing span they have when flying.
The plateau colony is situated on a sheer cliff hundreds of feet above the sea.
Baby stays where it is safe for now.
This guy tentatively emerges to inspect his surroundings.
There is another colony of gannet on the plateau further down and to the left of us.
Rolling hills of the Cape Kidnappers property.
Cape Kidnappers is also a resort on which there is a golf course said to be ranked as 33rd in the world. One thing's for sure, with the high winds, every golfer has an excuse for putting balls in the rough!
While a bit rough and frightening at times, the trip was well worth it! We were fortunate to have a driver-guide who was born and raised in the area and who had worked on the property almost all his life.
"High tea" in a barn finished off the trip! (Brits would be appalled!)
T&R
No comments:
Post a Comment