Pohuehue - wire wine, Muehlenbeckia australis Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Kōwhai flowers - Sophora microphylla Kōwhai is māori for yellow Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand 10 Sep 2006

Kōwhai flowers - Sophora microphylla Kōwhai is māori for yellow Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Kōwhai flowers - Sophora microphylla Kōwhai is māori for yellow Tiritiri Mtangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Eagle sting ray Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006 From the landing pier, we spotted this fellow minding its own business on the bottom of the bay.

Gill on the Wattle track Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Gill on the Wattle track Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Coastline Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Rangitoto from Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Lighthouse Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Lighthouse Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006 Latitude 36 degrees 36.4 minutes south Longitude 174 degrees 53.8 minutes east This light shone for the first time on the 1st of January 1865. The tower was made in England and shipped to New Zealand in sections. The lighthouse is the oldest tower still in operation in New Zealand, and in 1956 when it was fitted with an 11-million candle power xenon lamp, it was one of the most powerful lights in the world at that time. The cast-iron tower stands 20 metres high and 91 metres above sea level. The light flashes once every 15 seconds and can be seen for 18 nautical miles - 33 kilometres. The 50-watt lamp operates on abattery supply charged by solar panels. The original lens was converted from an oil-burning lamp to aetylene in 1925, and then to diesel-generated electricity in 1955. This was later connected to mains electricity via a 5km underwater cable in 1966. The light was fully automated in 1984 and the lighthouse keeper was withdrawn.

White tree Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Kowhai in bloom Tiritiri Mtangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Fern Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Fern Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Tree weta - tokoriro, Hemideina thoracica Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Wattle flower Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006

Wattle flower Tiritiri Matangi Island New Zealand - 10 Sep 2006