Walk to the Seal Colony at Turakirae Head (31 August 2002)

	It's a lovely drive from Wellington: around the Bay, through Petone and past Wainuiomata, then South along the Rimutaka State Forest Park, past the meadows (grass and shrubs and large Ti Kouka [Cabbage trees]) near the Wainuiomata River, where sheep are grazing with their new lambs. The walk to Turakirae Head leads us past a cottage and across the estuary of the Orongorongo River onto the fenced but accessible terrain of a sheep farm. (Pictures with beveled edges are thumbnails; click to see a larger version and use the 'back' button to return to this page.)
We cross some fences ('legally', at the wooden 'stairways') and then walk down between the rocks, where we see kelp and many paua shells ...	... and then the first seals...
	Picnic on the rocks (with coffee, cookies, and delicious kiwi fruit)
	A mother-seal (we assume) is leading her silky-skinned cub to the water. Notice the brown spots on the rocks where seals have been rubbing their skin.
	Another group is sunbathing and taking the occasional agile swim between the sharp-edged cliffs.
Panoramic view of the rocky shore
	The seal we had decided was like a 'grumpy teenage babysitter' is watching us leave, assuming a rather triumphant-looking pose (be sure to click the thumbnail on the right to see it more clearly).
	A dark bird (hawk?) has chosen this large rock as a perfect lookout.
	Walking back in the golden light of the late-afternoon sun.