What'll (What will / Wattle) I do today. Go for a walk, that's what I'll do!
This cache is found on the Okiato to Russell walkway and is on stage four.
Stage 4 Hirst Reserve, Orongo Bay to Florance Avenue, Russell
Distance 4.5 km, Walking Time 60 min (Florance Ave to Russell Wharf 30 mins)
From Orongo Bay Homestead follow DOC Markers through Hirst Reserve. Short boardwalks have been provided for when the ground is waterlogged. Check out this video of the homestead and parts of stage 4.
After passing through re-generating bush a grassy track leads to the 510 metre boardwalk crossing the mangrove flats. At low tide boulders can be seen at the Hirst reserve end. Some of these contain white coloured manganese deposits and are remnants of the mining of manganese from Mt.Tikitikioure 1874 - 1887. The ore was packed in wooden boxes at the sorting sheds on the mountain and from there by the one and a quarter mile long flying fox-type wire system down to a pontoon moored in the middle of the bay. This pontoon was anchored in the deeper water where lighters could tie alongside to load the ore to be exported to steel mills around the world. Some of the boulders are discarded ballast.
Along the boardwalk there is seating and interpretive signage giving information on both the historical and the mangrove environment.
The track emerges at Orongo Bay Oyster Farm layby and shop. This was one of the first marine farming areas to be developed in Northland. Oyster farming leases were issued here in 1966. These first oysters were rock oysters, but 10 years later Pacific Oysters invaded which were found to mature three times quicker than the rock oysters and continue to be harvested here.