Sometimes we take the beauty of the area we live in, for granted! A couple of weeks ago, we were reminded of that beauty, enough to take our breath away. The nature gifts that are there for us, day in, day out, but we are are too busy with worldly activities, to stop, to open our eyes and take it all in. A 5 minute drive from our home is the Beach Road Harbour. We often drive there to collect seaweed, but usually, we are there simply for the collection, quick to return to all the duties that await at home.
This reserve (MacMillan Reserve) has a sealed parking area and basic public toilets overlooking the harbour and even allows Freedom Campers, as long as they stay only 2 nights and leave the place in a neat and tidy condition. That is quite generous really – a million dollar view, a rugged toilet and all this for – well, nothing really! I can think of many a camping sight that offers perhaps a better toileting and kitchen facility, with views of other camper vans, for a nightly fee of $16.50 P/P! It is secluded and a great getaway freedom camp site. It is a great spot to wake up in, with a small grassy area and pohutukawa trees in full magnificent bloom in December/ January. There is a walkway along the coast, on a mowed green grassy strip.
But back to business…. MacMillan Reserve….it’s a beauty. Well worth a drive to the end of Beach Road, and a little walk while breathing in all that fresh air! As I mentioned before, we often go and harvest sea lettuce and sea grass for our compost bins. The addition of seaweed adds a range of beneficial nutrients to your compost, as well as aerating it.
There is a line of old pine trees which may have originally been used as a wind break for the farmers near the shore, but have since been chopped down. It’s also a great place to go and collect pine cones for fire starters. Foraging is a great way to live sustainably, using what nature freely provides us.
Kia Ora! Ka kite ano, Jizzy
