Coromandel for the Winter 2012

Last week, Deb and I, like godwits, migrated north to Whangapoua Beach, Coromandel, for the winter.  My brother and wife live here but this year they've travelled far further north to Europe.  An offer to house mind was too good to miss. After the West Coast, Coromandel is my favourite district.  Both share an extended coastline but "Coro" beaches are definitely more user friendly.  Its a   chance to relive my Northland childhood catching fish and exploring the bays and headlands. We've been here a week now, time to settle in and adjust to the new surroundings.  It's ironic that there are many similarities between the two localities.  Both have large estuaries with ample "wild food"; cockles, pipis, flounder, mullet and kahawai.  Okarito has trout and salmon whereas Whangapoua has piper, snapper and kingfish, plus OYSTERS. Wild food, the gathering of,  is a big part of our golden years.  Be it wild game, sea food, abandoned fruit trees, you name it, we've got our eyes peeled for anything wild and free.  Coro is rich in the stuff.  So far we've spotted rabbits, peacocks, quail and pheasants.  Wild pigs lurk in the surrounding hills.  Shellfish and fish are abundant too.  We're sure we won't starve this winter. Once we've stocked the larder I'll write other impressions of the District of Coromandel.