Gannets are still flying in late November.
Gannets are still flying in From Australia and landing at Muriwai on the cliffs or nearby Sea Stacks. Prime AirBnB(BedsnBirds) sites have been taken. The first gannet chicks are ready for a feed and that fishy smell is in the air. The population is about to explode.
Te Henga Pillow lavas
The pillow lavas at Te Henga, part 1. Landside.
It began with a submarine landslide about 15 million years ago when a huge lahar cascaded down the slopes of an ancient volcano. The volcanic slurry of pebbles and boulders came to rest not far from the lifeguard station at the north end of the beach.
Collins Bay with pillow lavas and a large block of conglomerate.
The south end of Collins Bay and the Conglomerate Block’s Story.
Cobbles, boulders, and gravel forming the conglomerate block in the picture are on a journey that began in the early Miocene.