Lovely lessons.
13 February 2019 | En route to Stoney Bay, Coromandel Peninsula
Maggie
Today we learned a lot!
As Gavin drove us from Coramandel Town up along the north east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, with stops at Kennedy Bay and Little Bay before our drop off at Stoney Bay, he gave us lessons in the history of the area.
We learned about interesting characters who lived and worked the land back in the 1800's and those who continue to do so today...
We learned about the Manuka trees and the honey business connected to their white blossoms that make the honey worth it's weight in gold for its healing properties (this tree is also known as tea tree from which the oil is derived)...
We learned about the regions efforts to restore the wetlands that had been drained in the past for cattle pasture...
their value in the eco system is now understood...
We learned about the kiwi protection program and the power of the people to stop growth and big development in their little communities and the hippie establishments from the 70's that still flourish out here in the thickets of the forests!
It was such an interesting 3 hour drive...
Thanks Gavin!
The pics are of the Manuka trees.