www.meg.org.nz

SUMMER HOLIDAY Programme

JANUARY2017

Book now Cal l 07 8666903

or vis it Coromandel Info Centre

P roceeds help protect

Coromandel k iwi

Nature act i v i t i e s

for the whole fami ly

Come on an adventure with us this su

mmer

TH INGS TO DO TH IS SUMMER Wander through a rainforest thriving with rare and endangered wildlife, hear kiwi call each night and have an unforgettable encounter with nature these holidays.

Grab the chance to experience and enjoy Coromandel’s natural treasures guided by local volunteers keen to share their passion and knowledge.

This Summer Programme is organised by Moehau Environment Group (MEG), a local community conservation group. We look forward to meeting you soon. If you want to learn more about us head to meg.org.nz What do these symbols mean?

Gradings:... An easy stroll. Low level fitness required. ... A good walk. Average fitness required. ...A big hike. Good level of fitness required.

Half day Full day Evening Bring lunch & drink Bring snacks & drink Child (16 years old and under) Adult Family (2 adults, 2 children)

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are essential as some activities have restricted numbers or may not run without a minimum number of people.

07 8666903

BOOKINGS...

To book call...

For Waikawau Bay activities, campers can book at the DOC camp office.

Hoot hoot! Keep kauri standing. Always stay on the track and clean ALL dirt off your boots before going bush.

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DISCOVER GREAT MERCURY ISLAND

UP-CLOSE KIWI ENCOUNTERS

20 January - 7:30am Meet at Whitianga Wharf for quarantine check Note: if weather is bad, trip will be postponed till 24 January

10 & 11 January - 9am Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat Port Charles

This is a full day hike so a good level of fitness is required. All children must be accompanied by an adult. This walk is not suitable for children under ten.

Transferring to the island via an inflatable boat can be difficult. Patrons must be physically agile.

Made possible thanks to the Department of Conservation and the island’s owners Michael Fay and David Richwhite.

A ‘once in a lifetime experience’ to see a wild kiwi up-close in its natural habitat. Join our kiwi handlers as they track and catch a kiwi for its 6-month health check.

These experiences don’t come up very often. Bring your camera for this incredible photo opportunity. Don’t delay, numbers are limited and this activity books up fast!

A good level of fitness is required as we will be hiking off-trail in the bush. Not suitable for children under 7. Made possible thanks to Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat.

A rare chance to enjoy a guided tour of this predator-free paradise on our doorstep. Explore Great Mercury Island, home to white sandy beaches, refreshing waterfalls and friendly wildlife. Wander scenic tracks guided by a ranger. Spot kaka, kakariki, gecko and other rare native species.

We’ll hike around the coast, stopping for a picnic lunch and swim at Whaler Bay, before being collected by our launch at Peach Grove. Enjoy the journey home on a one hour scenic boat ride back to Whitianga, returning by 5pm. Book early as numbers are restricted!

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Cost : Cost : $90 AC $140$50 $80AC

When+Where: When+Where:

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4 & 18 January - 11am Driving Creek Railway Coromandel town

MEET A GECKO

Get to see and hold real live geckos. Encounter the exciting world of geckos with lizard expert Doug Ashby. Hear Doug share his knowledge of gecko and talk about his experience as a gecko keeper. While in this pest-free Sanctuary, check out the family of endangered pateke ducks, kiwi exhibit and other native wildlife benefiting from the Sanctuary’s predator proof fence. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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When+Where: Cost : C $5 $10A F $400

BOUNTY HUNTERS

6 & 11 January - 10am Driving Creek Railway Coromandel town

Help us track down some furry intruders that don’t belong in the pest free Sanctuary at Driving Creek. A few pests are hidden somewhere within the pest-free enclosure.

Come and explore the sanctuary and try your luck at tracking down these little nasties. While in the sanctuary, discover the nocturnal world of kiwi in an interactive exhibit.

A great activity for the little-ones. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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Cost : Gold coin donation

When+Where: 4, 12, 17 & 29 January - 7:30pm Port Charles Fire Station Port Charles

KIWI NIGHT ADVENTURE

3 January - 3:30pm Race briefing Little Bay Beach

CABBAGE TREE FAMILY FUN RUN

Families, get your jog on! This annual race has become a Little Bay tradition. The fun 3.5 km course starts at Little Bay beach before racing up the headland to the cabbage tree.

Open to all ages and abilities. This is all about having a go. The fun run will be followed by sprint races, a tug of war and a lollie scramble for the kids.

Explore the forest at night time in real kiwi country. Hear kiwi call and see a kiwi nest. Learn about our national bird and the work Moehau Environment Group and local residents are doing to save our kiwi. Bring a torch and sturdy shoes.

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Cost : Cost : AC $5 $10 Donations appreciated

When+Where: When+Where:

GINGERFEST

13 January - 10am Meet at the skatepark Coromandel town

21 January - 10am Meet at giant kiwi sculpture Port Charles

Wherever wild ginger goes, nothing else can grow. Join us for a few hours, as we tackle this nasty invasive weed. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!

We’ll learn about the threat weeds pose for our native plants, before going on a ginger-hunt nearby.

Cost : Free!

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When+Where:

13 January - 9am Beach end of Waimanu Rd Waikawau Bay

ROCKY SHORERAMBLE

Discover and appreciate the plants and animals that call the seashore home. Find out who’s hiding in rockpools, holding onto boulders or sunbathing in the sand dunes.

From seaweeds and limpets to mussels and sea anemones, along with the birds that feed off them all. Great fun for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

When+Where: 5 January - 9.30am Waikawau Bay Camp office

6 January - 9.30am Papa Aroha Camp office 9 January - 9.30am Long Bay Camp office

JUNIOR RANGERS

Become a bush detective and search for clues left by native animals that live in the bush. We’ll be doing a range of activities to inspire, inform and enthuse kids about our unique plants and animals.

Good fun for the kids. For 7 to 12 year olds (children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult).

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When+Where: When+Where: 6, 7, 13, 14 & 29 Jan- 8.30pm Telephone Kiosk Waikawau Bay DOC Camp

NOCTURNAL WALK

Encounter the exciting nocturnal world of our forests and streams. Engage all your senses with this after dark tour of nature.

Bring a torch. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Numbers are limited so please book at the DOC camp office to reserve a spot.

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C $5 $10A C $5 Free!ACost : Cost : Cost : C $5 $10A

3 & 9 January - 7.30pm Denton’s Woolshed Waikawau Bay

STARLIGHT CINEMA

Watch a family classic on the big screen. Pack up a picnic, grab something to sit on and come down to the Woolshed for a magical night of outdoor cinema. Get there in plenty of time to claim your seat on the hale-bale grandstand.

Screening:

BOY (3 Jan) The year is 1984, and Boy, an 11-year-old kid and devout Michael Jackson fan, gets a chance to know his father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.

This animated movie will be enojyed by kids and adults alike. A stranded young ladybug, forms an alliance with a squad of black ants, to retrieve the remains of a picnic. This soon sparks war with another tribe of ants, and a battle ensues.

Gold coin donationCost :When+Where:

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MINUSCULE: VALLEY OF THE LOST ANTS (9 Jan)

7 Jan: Thames Coast - 8:30am Call 07 867 9080 to book

8 Jan: Kuaotunu - 9am Email sheilachris@xtra.co.nz or call 021 716 514 to book

12 Jan: Waikawau Bay - 9am Call 07 867 9080 to book

14 Jan: Tairua - 9am Call 07 868 9912 or 027 235 8424 to book

If you spend time near the bush please get your dog kiwi trained. Training is free and only takes ten minutes. Bookings are essential. Dogs are the biggest threat to adult kiwi in our area. Any dog can kill kiwi. In fact, smaller breeds like terriers are the most likely offenders. Kiwi have no chance against any dog.

These sessions are run as a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Coromandel kiwi protection groups. Help us keep kiwi safe this summer. If you’ve had your dogs trained, well done! Remember: repeating the training once a year is recommended.

TEACH YOUR DOG TO AVOID KIWI

When+Where: Free!Cost :

Bookings are essential as some activities may not run without a minimum number of people.

For Waikawau Bay activities, campers can also book at the DOC camp office.

Please leave a phone number when you book.

MEG reserves the right to cancel trips due to bad weather, insufficient patronage, fire or other emergencies and any other unforeseen circumstances.

MEG may decide to cancel a trip just before departure time and we apologise for this. If a decision is made early enough participants will be contacted and details will be listed on our website meg.org.nz

Full refunds will be issued in late January if a trip is cancelled.

BOOKINGS + CANCELLATIONSH

Psst! Want to help kiwi thrive on the Coromandel?

Then support MEG!

And for more info on any activity call Terry Whitehouse on 07 866 6903.

07 8666903 To book call...

Our vision is to become the largest open sanctuary in New Zealand - a remote coastal landscape where people live, work and holiday; wetlands and forests regenerate; the bird-song is deafening; and treasured species thrive.

Formed in 2000, we currently have over 100 members, mostly locals, landowners and others keen to see the area once again alive with the sounds and sights of native wildlife.

We partner closely with over 430 landowners, other community conservation groups, the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council, local schools and Iwi to achieve landscape-scale pest control on the Coromandel.

We now have habitat restoration projects covering over 13,000 hectares, primarily on private land. This has allowed for the recovery of many endangered species including

dramatic turnarounds for kiwi, fernbirds, bittern, kaka, and spotless crake.

The hard work of our volunteers and members has allowed for the reintroduction of the North Island robin and pateke (brown teal), with both endangered species now breeding in the area. For more about us visit meg.org.nz

Become a member today and help us protect the beautiful Coromandel.

WHO ARE WE?Moehau Environment Group is a non-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the natural environment on the Coromandel Peninsula.

To make a credit card donation go to meg.org.nz/donations

Our Online Shop raises funds to support conservation projects on the Coromandel. Every cent of profit from any items purchased goes directly towards protecting biodiversity. Check out meg.org.nz/support-us/shop to view our range of items - T-shirts, fridge magnets, gift cards and more

Follow us on Facebook...

LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR WORK?

Become a member of Moehau Environment Group to directly help protect the unique species & ecosystems on the Coromandel Peninsula. Members also receive our quarterly newsletter and priority bookings on Summer Programme activities. Subs are only $10 per person, $20 per family or from $250 for Corporates. We can’t do this without your support, so thank you!

Join Us...

Make a donation...

Visit our online shop...

Like Moehau Environment Group on facebook to keep updated on our progress and help spread the word!

Our tireless volunteers who dedicate their summer to help lead Summer Programme activities and share their expertise

This booklet was designed and illustrated by Natalie Collicott. To contact her, email natalie@meg.org.nz

A BIG THANKS TO...

The Department of Conservation and Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat who we work in partnership with for some events.

Print House who sponsor the printing of this programme. Print House is committed to sustainability and the protection of the environment. This booklet is printed using Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.

KEY DATES : JANUARY 20 17Family Fun Run, Little Bay Starlight Cinema, Waikawau Bay Meet a Gecko, Coromandel town Kiwi Night Adventure, Port Charles Junior Rangers, Waikawau Bay Junior Rangers, Papa Aroha Bounty Hunters, Coromandel town Nocturnal Walk, Waikawau Bay Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi, Thames Coast Nocturnal Walk, Waikawau Bay Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi, Kuaotunu Junior Rangers, Long Bay Starlight Cinema, Waikawau Bay Up-close Kiwi Encounter, Port Charles Up-close Kiwi Encounter, Port Charles Bounty Hunters, Coromandel town Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi, Waikawau Bay Kiwi Night Adventure, Port Charles Rocky Shore Ramble, Waikawau Bay Ginger-fest, Coromandel town Nocturnal Walk, Waikawau Bay Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi, Tairua Nocturnal Walk, Waikawau Bay Kiwi Night Adventure, Port Charles Meet a Gecko, Coromandel town Discover Great Mercury Island, Whitianga Ginger-fest, Port Charles Nocturnal Walk, Waikawau Bay Kiwi Night Adventure, Port Charles

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