Searching for a nearby running trail

One of the things I really miss from our home in California is being able to walk out our door and be on a dirt trail in the forest in about 10 minutes. I love to run, but a lot of my love for the activity is derived from being in nature. My joints also much prefer dirt trails over concrete or asphalt. Living in the city has taken away a bit of the joy of running for me, but I'm starting to find routes near our house that take me from one reserve (green space) to the next. Most of the paths through the reserves are asphalt, but at least I'm away from cars and have birds and trees to look at while I run. These routes are great for after work, but I'm in search of some trail options for the weekend that are longer and mostly dirt. And now that Pete spends most of his Saturdays at the shed, I need something to fill my time. 

I came across a couple of options within 20 minutes of our house on a running blog that sounded like they might fit my vision, more or less. I've been sick for the last ten days so running hasn't been in the cards, but I packed up my camera instead and took a slow saunter along the trails to see what they were like. Both trails follow sections of the Manukau Harbor coastline, the second largest estuary in New Zealand. The trails are quite different from one another. One is completely flat and the other is like a roller coaster. One is quite open with farm animals and wading birds, while the other traverses patches of native and exotic forest patches and showcases some cool geological features. Both trails have lovely coastal views and are longer than I'm currently fit to run. In short, I think they will do. 

Trail #1:

you have to be willing to stop cuddling
this horse to actually start your run...

white-faced heron

endangered New Zealand dotterel

late-season lamb cuteness

Trail #2:

snails carving out their own space in the sandstone

Pete's knee is finally on the mend so we did a walking test last weekend at the zoo, which is just down the road from our house. One of our employee benefits is a free zoo visit every year, so we decided to check it out before the summer holiday rush of a gazillion kiddos... 

one of my favorites - the meerkats

the flamingoes were doing some weird things...

have you ever seen a flamingo resting on its ankles??

ring-tailed lemur with an awesome tail

The zoo also had a couple of non-standard species.

The tuatara is a New Zealand endemic and the only species in
the lineage Rhynchocephalia that was all the rage 200
million years ago. The tuatara gave rise to modern day 

lizards and snakes. They even have a third eye...

This is a Tasmanian devil - the largest carnivorous marsupial.
We are hoping to see some in Tasmania in a couple of months,
but their numbers are dwindling so this might be our best look.

Pete's knee held up really well during our zoo tour, so I think we are back on track for some hiking adventures!