Posted on

Totaranui Beach, ten seconds of time.

Totaranui Beach by John Maillard

Purchase a Print

Totaranui Beach, ten seconds of time captures ten seconds of time in one photograph.

Totaranui is a 1 km long beach and the site of a large campsite in the Nelson region, New Zealand administered by theDepartment of Conservation (DoC).

It is located in Abel Tasman National Park toward the northern end of the Abel Tasman Track and is often used as a starting or finishing point for the walk.

Originally a farming settlement, the only permanent residents now are DoC staff. However, during summer the population is swollen by up to 1000 campers plus hikers on the track. Water taxi services from Marahau link Totaranui with other localities around the Park coastline, while a road links Totaranui with Takaka via Pigeon Saddle.

Farming ceased after the foundation of the Abel Tasman National Park in 1942 and forest has been allowed to naturally regenerate through manuka and kanuka to its original mix of southern beech and lowland podocarp.

Totaranui is noted for the golden colour of its sand, more intense than other beaches in the Park, the result of a high content of orthoclase minerals in the eroded granite sands of the vicinity.

Print signed by John Maillard on 17x22inch etching paper, with a handling edge.

Posted on

Drift Wood at Birdling’s Beach

Wooden Bones on the beach, Birdlings flat.

Birdling’s Flat. Print signed by John Maillard on 17x22inch etching paper, with a handling edge.

Birdling’s Flat is a pebble beach that is part of Kaitorete Spit. The beach is well known as a place to find small agates and a variety of other attractive rounded pebbles. Due to strong ocean currents, swimming and surfing is not advised.

Ten seconds of water, sky, land and peace

Birdling’s Flat is named for the Birdling family, who were the first European Settlers to farm the area. William Birdling was the first member of the Birdling family to arrive in New Zealand. He was employed by George Rhodes in 1843 to come to Banks Peninsula and work as his overseer. William built a house, Waikoko, in the area which was later to bear his name.