Grateful for my hiking boots as I descended down towards Goat Bay, and admiring ferns of every size, some towering above like giants, others just reaching my waist. I noticed the fronds uncurling like sun worshippers. My phone clicked as I took the first of many photos of the koru shaped fern fronds.
This part of the forest also has magnificent specimens of Rata. Bursting out of the bush from the downward leg, my eyes squinted against the gleaming golden-sand beach, we walked close to the sea where the sand was slightly firmer and continued to marvel at the coastal view.
As we approached the Awaroa Inlet at low tide, we changed our tramping boots to light shoes and waded across the Inlet. It was certainly swift at some parts. Changing back into our boots, it wasn’t long until we reached our destination for the night. Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa.