Tuesday started much like Monday with a drive and some short hikes in a great park. This time we headed east of Matakana to the Tawharanui Regional Park on the Tawharanui Peninsula. They were mowing as we drove in. It is a 588 hectare park (1,450 square acres) that aims to provide an open sanctuary free from plant and animal pests where native birds and animals can thrive.
We tried not to be too much of human pests while we were there. The native Kauri tree has been struck with a die-back disease, so we had to clean our shoes when we entered one part of the track to keep from bringing contaminants in.
After natural beauty, we returned to Brick Bay Winery for man-made beauty with their 65 piece Sculpture Trail. I have just picked a few photos, but the highlight for Bob was getting 5 new big head photos which he posted on his Instagram.
Our only comment on the trail, and we have this thought in art museums sometimes as well, we read the descriptions provided with the pieces, but they are often so ostentatiously worded that by the time you’ve deciphered what they are endeavoring to say, you’re too tired to want to go on. (a bit like that last sentence but more so). We finally quit reading and made up our own stories.
From Brick’s Bay, we headed to Warkworth a town of about 5,000 northeast of the winery and southeast of Matakana. We just walked the main streets to get a sense of the town.
The only other Matakana Wine Trail winery open during the winter is Heron’s Flight which was on the road back to Matakana. They closed at 5, and we got there about 4. We were the only guests. The cellar door seemed to be a mom-and-pop run place (mostly mom). We had an interesting chat (mostly about accounting) with the host and two quick tastings before they left to run some errands. They were out of the drive before we were.
Peckish Travels 