The second official road-trip I took Clayton on proved to be informative…for both of us. One of us learnt that a cow is not a sheep, and that sheep are smallish wooly quadrupeds. And perhaps that same one of us also learnt that chitons are not fossils. If you’re thinking “Wow…Sheila you should know better…you have a Biology degree for god’s sake” then you are right. I do know better 
The first week for Clayton in was educational, and he no longer points at cows and says sheep.
We did a bit of a tour north of Auckland, hitting Goat Island, Leigh, and Tawharanui. We travelled first to Goat Island which is a really cool spot where there is great scuba diving/snorkeling. We did neither. But we did check out the tide pools and will definitely head back in warmer weather for some snorkeling.
Myna Bag at Goat Island
On the way down to Tawharanui from Goat Island we stopped in the town of Leigh first, checking out the seaside and the wharf. There were quite a few people fishing off rocks (very common here in NZ) so we took our time trotting across the rocky shore, poking around in tide pools. It was my first Lord of the Rings (or LOTR as it noted on maps) re-enactments…first of many I’m sure. I found myself crouched beside a tide pool eagerly poking a dead fish…in a similar fashion as my good friend Gollum…although I didn’t whack my fishes head on a rock
Next stop was Tawharanui which is a well-known regional park on the North Island known for its beautiful beach and safe surfing. The drive started innocently enough. Green rolling hills, no cars on the road, sheeps on the hillside. It turned into another one of those “excellent” NZ drives…down narrow windy gravel roads which at some cases barely fit two cars (and I really mean barely) which goes on for what seems like eternity. But when you finally get there it is definitely worth it. We wandered down the beach, through some small caves and onto a sheltered bay. NZ can be a bit deceptive…the bright sunshine and harsh UV rays do not make up for the strong cold wind that always seems to be wherever you are.
Clayton Chasing Sheep
It was a great day of adventuring. Goat Island and Tawharanui are definitely places I will return to. Perhaps though not too soon in the future…some of the beach bathers may remember Clayton for his uncivilized behavior…chasing the sheep just off the beach.