Muriwai Beach and Gannet Colony

After leaving Auckland late at night, we drove a short distance to the Tasman Sea in search of a place to park our Campa-Van and sleep for the night. What we found was the parking lot of Muriwai Beach. Arriving late at night, we had no clue what we would wake up to find. I think we picked a pretty good sight to wake up to — what do you think?

Muriwai Beach is popular with the surfers and the wildlife.

Australasian Gannets live out at sea most of their lives, except to mate and raise their young. An island further out to sea is where the colony originally made their home away from sea. Recently, the island became overcrowded and they decided to move closer to shore, where a stone column in the sea still provided enough protection from humans and predators. That soon overflowed and now in addition they use the cliffs on shore.

While on land, unless they are hanging out with their mates, they will keep at least a full wing length distance between them.

They use the strong wind currents that come ashore to take off and venture far out to sea for feeding. The young will use these winds to take them to the distant shores of Australia for an extended holiday of 4-5 years before coming back and settling down to have a family. I think everyone should do this, don’t you? He He…