The other evening, we arranged a little extra time on the way to a comedy show in Matakana, about an hour’s drive from home. We detoured to Tawharanui Regional Park.

I’d heard about how nice it is from friends who do outdoor activities: surfing, mountain biking, and of course swimming.

A big chunk of the park is predator-free surrounded by a tall fence. So, there’s lots of birds. And it’s also a protected marine reserve, so there’s lots of fish.

We walked around, visited the little display of history and birdlife posters, and then went to our show.

It was super pretty, blissfully uncrowded, and definitely recommended for a picnic or a camping trip. In other words, pretty average / normal for these parts.