Not your actual volcano

Plans for this weekend reached final settlement late yesterday. While young L played his first game of football (soccer as we call it in NZ) for the year, Mr H and I would take a walk in the bush. S suggested an excellent walk to big Kauri in the Waitakeres. 

As we headed off to get there, I saw the entry to Meola reef, and pulled into the car park. It was a fated decision, as there was one park available. He and I had a lovely walk through regenerating coastal forest, and as the path turned back towards the carpark, we walked out onto the reef proper. the photo shows the basaltic rock reef, which is the result of lava flow(s).

I'm not totally certain if it is the result of lava flows from  one two or three volcanoes. Lava had flowed from the eruption of volcanoes back on the isthmus into and along the Meola Creek valley. The lava flow disrupted the stream in the valley, shifting it sideways to run beside the basalt flows into the Waitemata Harbour.

Although it had long been known that lava had flowed from Maungawhau (Mt Eden) and Te Tatua a Riukiuta (Three Kings) into the Meola Creek valley, it was not until research by an MSc graduate student in 2008 that it was known that much earlier than either of those volcanoes, lava from the eruption and formation of Te Kopuke (Mt St John) had flowed 11 kmunder where Maungawhau is now and out to form the Meola Reef, which extends under the water almost to the North Shore at Birkenhead. Some vegetation is becoming established on this part of the reef which is partially submerged at high tide.

Mr H had good fun walking over the basalt reef, spotting crabs scuttling for cover, disliking the midges, and (when we went to the water's edge) getting his shoes muddy and wet. I got the two bird extras and had a really enjoyable and relaxing walk with Mr H.