The Peninsula
The Karikari Peninsula fronts Doubtless Bay on its southern side and the Pacific Ocean to the north. The peninsula is renown for its beautiful white sandy beaches, particularly Tokerau and Karikari Beaches, as well as many secluded coves.The jewel in the Karikari Peninsula crown is Maitai Bay, one of the most beautiful and idyllic beaches in New Zealand. The peninsula is also home to Karikari Estate, New Zealand's northernmost winery and vineyard.
In addition to the boating and bathing attractions, the waters surrounding the Karikari Peninsula are a fisherman's paradise. The majority of world records for striped marlin of varying classes have been established off the tip of the Karikari Peninsula. Carrington can arrange a deep sea fishing expedition with champion boat captains, fishing for marlin, snapper, kingfish and tuna. Other recreational activities on the Karikari Peninsula which are available to Carrington guests include surf casting, skeet shooting, tennis, golf, wine tasting and horseback riding, diving or walking the many tracks on the 3000 acre farm and secluded beach.
Ecology
The newly restored 545 acre wetland area on Carrington Farms extends onto the neighboring Department of Conservation property, creating a 900 acre wetland. The wetland is a shallow fresh water habitat which is on average 1 metre deep. This wetland, due to its location is considered to be unique. In addition the wetland backs up to 4 kilometers of sand dunes, some reaching 15 metres in height on Karikari Beach. The configuration of the wetlands, sand dunes, beach and Pacific Ocean creates a unique self protecting environment which makes it much harder for predators such as stoats, dogs and cats, to infiltrate the nesting habitat. This exceptional environmental ecosystem is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The Carrington wetlands habitat is home to, among others: Bittern, Black Swan, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, Grey Duck, Mallard Duck, Paradise Shelduck, Pukeko and the White Faced Heron. The 4 kilometer Karikari Beach sand dune habitat that abuts the Carrington wetlands is home to the New Zealand Dotterel (Karikari is a key nesting beach for the species, 38 nesting sites were identified in 1999), Pied Stilt, Oystercatcher, Spur-winged Plover, Eastern Bar-tailed Godwit, Caspian Tern, White Fronted Tern, Eastern Little Tern, Red-billed Gull and the Black-backed Gull.
The objective of Carrington Farms was to restore a vast area of wetlands that had been lost due to inappropriate man made drainage. When Carrington first purchased the property in 1995 the existing wetland was approximately 50 acres, approximately 5% of what it is today. Through observation and historic research Carrington Farms Ltd determined that its wetland area was drastically smaller than what it had originally been. Historic photographs/surveys, personal accounts, and signs of earthworks proved that the wetland size had been significantly reduced by inappropriate drainage commenced in 1979. A man-made channel and outlet had been created to divert the water into the ocean, which resulted in a reduction in the wetlands water level of 1 metre. A secondary problem caused by the drainage channel was the constant erosion of the sand dunes on the Karikari Beach. The man-made outlet continued to redirect itself in an inappropriate direction, which caused significant erosion of sand dunes that were in excess of 17 metres high. An estimated 750 thousand cubic metres of sand dunes were washed away by the man-made channel.
In the year 2000 Carrington Farms Ltd took it upon themselves to undo the man-made drain in order to restore the wetlands to its natural state and to prevent the ongoing sand dune erosion problems on the Karikari beach. By closing the man-made drainage channel the wetlands has transformed itself back to its original size, similar to its 1861 status, thus restoring the water level an average of 1 metre. The sand dune regeneration, although slow, seems to be progressing, and the habitat and wildlife have dramatically increased. The total restored wetland area is approximately 850 acres. In addition to the wetlands restoration project, Carrington Farms has implemented a program to help re-establish indigenous plants and trees. To date, Carrington has planted over 10,000 native plants and trees in and adjacent to the wetlands habitat. The indigenous species include: Flax, Pohutukawas, Puriris, Cabbage Trees Kowhai, Nikau Palms, Karo, Kahikatea, Totara and Ponga.
The wetlands restoration was accomplished solely with Carrington Farms funding and by the actions of Carrington Farms employees. The resulting outcome is one of monumental achievement.
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