Following McCahon to the Far North

State Highway 1 at Awanui, gateway to the Far North.

A traditional northern landscape: sheep-shaped hillsides and five-wire fences.

A changing landscape: avocado plantings at Waiharara.

"Red Mountain" glimpsed from farmland.

The western tip: (left to right) Taupiri Island, Cape Maria van Diemen and Motuopao Island.

Subfossil flax snail/pūpūharakeke on dunes behind Te Werahi Beach.

Flax snails/pūpūharakeke are still found on the Three Kings Islands and around the northern capes, but are vulnerable to predation.

Part of loop track through manuka and spiky hakea that connects Te Werahi Beach, Cape Maria and Twilight Beach.

Oystercatchers feeding on Twilight Beach/Paengarēhia.

Red clay outcrop glimpsed at sunset from Twilight Beach.

Sand patterns on Twilight Beach.

Sand patterns on Twilight Beach.

Cape Maria van Diemen beacon winks in the distance from Twilight Beach.

Weather-sculpted clay deposits behind Twilight Beach.

Clay deposits at the foot of "Red Mountain".

Sketching clay deposits at "Red Mountain".

Another solitary wanderer on Twilight Beach: an isopod.

Dune ripples at north end of Twilight Beach.

Mineral crust on dune deposits.

The colours of the north: rainbow over State Highway 1.

Area of exploration. Picture / topomap.co.nz