Awoke early after a FABULOUS night's slumber. The sun was shining ... the sky was blue! Yay!
0700 breakfast with the boys ... and out to film the property.
At 1000 we met with John McLennan - a Kiwi who took me to meet a real Kiwi! The Kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand and is a flightless bird. There were 5 species on the islands ... two are extinct and the 3 remaining are fighting it. The Brown Island Kiwi lives on Cape Kidnappers ... there are 30 of them - all introduced to the estate. They are all tagged so they can be monitored. The plan is to get them breeding and keep extinction at bay. We tracked Number 41 ... a wee 3 month old called Bonus. Using radio equipment we found him asleep in an underground nest. He needed weighing so we were not being cruel disturbing him. Kiwis only come out at night so he wasn't overly pleased to see me but was happy to be weighed! He was 770 grams but now is 800 ... he is eating his insects well! I met a real Kiwi! I am totally in awe of this!
After a lovely lunch - a SUPERB club sandwich - we headed to the Spa & pool for some filming. Michele - the lovely therapist - was at hand to show-off her skills. The Spa has just 3 treatment rooms ... but it's very comfortable ... and comforting too!
Then we all headed out on quad bikes to explore the estate. It was great fun zooming through the dry river beds ... and over the hills! With guide Jonathan Taylor, we hacked for 3 hours! We ended up at Black Reef - home to a gannet sanctuary! Brilliant! It all looks so good on camera! I met loads of lambs & calves on the ride too!
I am pooped ... but satisfied with the day ... and the features we filmed ... VERY satisfied indeed.
Song of the Day: Footloose - Kenny Loggins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwBbMXYDsXw
Weather: Kiwi-tastic!
mary (top) had a little lamb (below) who's fleece was as white as snow
a kiwi holding a kiwi
"bonus" is getting bigger...!
julia "heidi" hausermann
the infinity pool
quad-biking!
with jonathan taylor
gannets at black reef
