The centre of the river, rushes, and swirls, busy with sunlight, and birds after insects, movement urged by the pull of the distant tide. The river, at high tide, is deep enough to get a fair sized sail boat up to the sturdy, quite new, dock. This being only perhaps fifty yards from where it becomes impassable, as it meets the weir upriver. Downstream, the river, meanders through the countryside around Warkworth. Cutting through past a distant Snells Beach, and to the harbour.
The town is set pretty much in the flat. Although there is a good rise from the centre of the town, to the road out, heading south, past the two petrol stations supporting it. There are a couple of supermarkets of good size, a dozen cafes of various sorts, and a collection of pubs, with a thriving RSA (returned service men's club) You can find a few dress, and gift shops, a fancy underwear shop, showing hidden depths to farming Warkworth perhaps.....and a hardware store, library, church hall, furniture shops, and a couple of charity stores. The thing you always remember the most though, is the number of chemists. There must be three, all large, and seemingly thriving, almost next door to each other. I have never really understood why, and how they all survive. Perhaps the farmers, like to dose themselves, rather than sit, and wait for the doctors.
It's the kind of place you might head for a snack, or to feed the ducks, the wide expanse of water, with plenty of seats beside the dock. Regularly, perhaps small boats moored, all a pretty nature break from the busy shops nearby. It's pleasant sitting beside the river. Giving a strong flavour of early settlers, coming upriver to the town. Building their wooden houses, tucked a way in the tress, or atop the slopes. Today, in the sun, hundreds of ducks are around, calling, squabbling, and ready to be fed. Most if them ordinary brown Mallard ducks, but again, doing very well, thank you, obviously prolific, with plenty of food, both natural around the river, and begged from random pic knickers.
Ducks are notoriously bad mothers, but so busy. Unthinking, they have their routine, which ducklings cannot disrupt. This means they travel up, and down, and along the side of the river, searching for food, I suppose. Of the fourteen or thereabout, ducklings they produce each hatching, generally fewer than two, or three survive. It's a sad sight to see the mother sailing off, leaving yet another duckling to become lost, or food for something bigger. Hawks in particular, know exactly where they are. Or sometimes eels, which grow to a large size, will pluck them off the river, with barely a ripple. It is a sad sight, and one I try to avoid. I did once try to reunite, ducklings with mothers, but it's impossible. Both, seem set on going in different directions, and away from me. Most of it happening down the side of the steep river bank. You realise, like those who travel to Africa, you must allow nature to take its course.
Farming is the mainstay around those parts. Mixed with a bit of tourism. With mostly dairy herds, as with the vast majority of NZ , being the most common. When you think of New Zealand, you think of sheep, don't you. Yet passing the fields, all you see are cows. Either dairy, going back to the milking sheds twice a day for milking, and quite a few beef cows. There are smattering of other things, llamas, deer, ostrich, a few pig farms, and chickens. It's a country town, and people farming the surrounding acres, have had a go at anything, and everything over the years. Anything in order to keep the money flowing, and the fields productive I know. This is not a large agricultural area, more meadowland, and grazing. Or, as they call them here, paddocks.
The people are typical country town folk. You know, it has that feel, flip flops, or wellies in the wet, casual clothes, a few hippie types.They like their mates, their booze, and their music, not necessarily in that order. They tend not to overdress. They are not city types, nor do they want to be. Both their dress, and their attitudes, are pleasantly casual. It impossible to dislike, only realise it no good being in a hurry. So casual is it, it's sometimes possible to feel overdressed, although go to a dance, and the post frocks come out.
It really feels like you expect a small friendly town to feel. People like to help, so you can ask almost anything. The way, the time, make a passing remark to someone nearby, or exchange views. It all seems relaxed, and easy going. Even the youngsters, give you a smile. Even though, like many small towns today, there is not much for them to do once they leave school. You discover, most New Zealander, try for a O.E., a big trip abroad. Even if they don't all make, most plan to go. I thInk, more adventurous than most ordinary kids in the UK.
To reach Warkworth, from Auckland, in the North island, you head further North still. Passing Albany, then Silverdale, past the red beach entrance to the Whangaparaoa peninsular, and on past the little sea side town of Orewa. The even smaller spa town of Waiwera, is nestled at the base of a large hill, on the sea. Nothing much more than a few houses, a pub, and a petrol station, and a few miles of mangrove swamp. With its large, and busy water park, and it's spa facilities, it offers relaxation,an d massages. As well as a days food, and fun in the sun for all the family, you can even watch an outdoor screening of the latest film as you soak in the naturally hot water. They boast a small crazy golf course, a church hall, a nice little beach with a. Couple of small hotels. it does OK.
Big things were planned there in the way of hotel resorts, but with the dive in the world economy, it has never happened. One day it will, it will be picked up, and continued. it's bound to happen. From there, it's up hill again until Warkworth. With it's even more county neighbouring town of Wellesford, even further north.
Now, we have just about covered all the major places from major town to small country so you run north from Auckland. It's a journey worth exploring! and, you will find even more than I can mention here. Cinemas, at Albany, garden centre at Silverdale, an Art centre at Orewa, in fact the whole area is chock full of artists. I know. I had some happy years there, as a practising artist, at the time the art centre was being set up. Artists always flock to beautiful places, so you will see many small studios, and galleries advertised as you travel. More, and mor of the sloping hills, are being transformed into wineries, beyond Waiwera. if you get the chance, to explore, and enjoy this lovely country, I know you will find more than a few places of interest every day.
Once more, I have left it's shores, I miss it already, lovely New Zealand. Except, the world beckons, does it not. So many places to see, and discover. So many people still to know.
After the UK, I intend to explore more of Europe. With being so close to the Dover ferries, travel there can be inexpensive. I have plans, and dreams already. Once you take off, who knows who, or what you might meet on the way. Only that, there will be stories to tell, places to fall in love with, and new vistas ever beckoning.
Enjoy all the world has to offer. If where you live, is not giving your soul, or body what it needs, explore, explore, explore. You will, for ever be surpised at what you find, at the diversity of this world of ours.
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