Miranda - not to be confused with the TV character, this small settlement is home to the Shorebird Centre, an internationally important wading bird reserve. It is home to over 4000 Bartailed Godwit that arrive from their breeding grounds in Alaska for our NZ summer.
Initially we had thought we would stop off at the natural hot springs in the holiday park/campground but after pulling up at Ray's Rest just north of the Shorebird Centre we weren't keen on moving. Ray's Rest is a freedom camping spot right on the beach where you are allowed to stay two nights.
It was high tide when we arrived so the view was very picturesque across the Firth of Thames to the Coromandel Peninsula. Next morning the sunrise was spectacular and the bay was full of wading birds feeding in what is an extensive estuary. Unfortunately by the time we got ourselves to 'the hide' to view the birds feeding it was low tide and they had all disappeared. We also never got to the Information Centre because there was no where to park our long rig but the following link gives you lots of information about the area.
Miranda Shorebird Centre
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