heart-leaved kōhūhū (Pittosporum obcordatum). Photo: Bill ClarksonHikurangi Swamp
Numbers: limit 40 people
Cost: $10 (Boxed lunches for field trips are an optional extra at $15 per head).
About: Hikurangi Swamp is a relic of one of New Zealand’s largest wetlands. Explore a mosaic of wetland types, including sedgelands and alluvial forest that host of diversity of uncommon plants in the north. This site is well known for its unnamed Hebe aff. bishopiana, a seriously threatened plant, and also a large population of heart-leaved kōhūhū (Pittosporum obcordatum) and many other divaricating species. Bus will depart Whangarei CBD at 9.00am and leave Hikurangi Swamp at 3.30pm.
Leptinella tenella. Photo: Marley FordParihaka
Numbers: limit 40 people
Cost: $20 (Boxed lunches for field trips are an optional extra at $15 per head).
About: A half day field trip to the hills of Parihaka, 10 minutes from the town basin. Enjoy Northland’s riparian forest, with kauri forest and gumlands on the ridges. The riparian habitat hosts interesting plants including the threatened daisy Leptinella tenella, several forms of toropapa (Alseuosmia banksii) and the upper North Island endemic fern (Loxsoma cunninghamii), as well as good communities of bryophytes and lichens. An interesting range of orchids is known from the slopes of Parihaka. Bus will depart Whangarei CBD at 9.00am and leave Mt, Parihaka to return at 1.00pm.
Fuchsia perscandens. Photo: Jesse BythellPipiwai Gumland
Numbers: This fieldtrip is now full
Cost: $20 (Boxed lunches for field trips are an optional extra at $15 per head).
About: Spend the day with local tangata whenua in the threatened gumlands and alluvial forest of Pipiwai, a large tract of Northland vegetation on private land seldom explored. Walk through extensive gumfields in orchid season and drop into a relict alluvial forest with very interesting northern records including, mānatu (Plagianthus regius subsp. regius), kōwhai (Sophora microphylla) and the northern limit of Fuchsia perscandens. Bus will depart Whangarei CBD at 9.00am and leave Pipiwai at 3.30pm to return.
Motu Matakohe/Limestone Island
Numbers: 24 people (barge capacity, however we could add a second run with the barge if interest is high enough)
Cost: $20 (Boxed lunches for field trips are an optional extra at $15 per head).
About: Enjoy this great example of ecological island restoration, 37 hectares of pest free island located in the Whangārei Harbour with kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) and other once locally extinct species reintroduced. Once an important Māori pa site and later one of Whangārei’s earliest industrial sites, this island eventually degenerated into degraded pasture. However, thanks to restoration efforts, it is now a functioning coastal broadleaf forest ecosystem. Bus will leave Whangarei CBD at 9.00am and will leave the barge landing point at Onerahi at 3.30pm to return.