Coromandel Life Magaizine 2017 Winter

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The Kauaeranga Visitor Centre (KVC) has
camping, walking and tramping, swimming and
The Pinnacles!
Port Jackson, one of the Coromandel’s most
magnificent beaches, plays host to some
awesome adventures and exploration.
Each location has its own treasure adventure
map list, such as the one shown. Any family
can plan their outing by looking at the map.
Many points are located near the centre itself or
close to a campsite, while other challenges, like
the Pinnacles peak, will require hiking, bravery...
and counting the night stars!
Start online or seek help from the KVC staff at
07 867 9080. Then submit the form to collect
your medal! See
Autumn’s flooding caused closure of the road
and trails past the Centre, but should reopen by
Labour weekend.
NOTE: Mark your calendars for KVC’s
awesome ‘6 Weeks of Summer’ Programme
that begins 1st January. The full program will
be out later this year, as well as in Coromandel
Life’s Spring and Summer editions. For a taste
of what is to come, see last year’s list of events
here:
Summer_2017_v1/index.html#22.
Although we often support outdoor
programmes and resources from the Dept.
of Conservation, the Toyota Kiwi Guardians
programme really impressed us. This ambitious
initiative encourages kids to be active outdoors
by getting involved in specific challenges,
discovery and conservation action projects to
earn awards and medals.
Family friendly activities are located at over 70
sites across NZ, usually anchored by a park
or visitors centre, or can be done from home,
with online videos available for instruction and
guidance. And yes, there is a medal reward and
certificate that will arrive in the mail. See list at
right for other ‘at home’ activities.
Some challenges are general in nature,
making it easy for anyone to participate from
anywhere in NZ: “Go camping: draw a map of
your campsite and explore your surroundings.”
Reward? The Curious Camper medal! Or “Get
your friends into nature by telling them about
somewhere you think is pretty cool!”
Each location features its own treasure/
challenge map drafted in a clever cartoon style
(see below). The maps can be downloaded to
your tablet or read online.
Toyota Kiwi Guardians: “Working together to
get kids into nature.”
TOYOTA AND THE DEPT. OF CONSERVATION TEAM UP
It’s easy to get started straightaway – Find this
map and list online at d
check out what you can do.
If you decide to visit the location, go and
explore and look out for the Guardian Post (see
photo below) where you’ll find a special code
word to write down.
Then, later use the code word to enter online
to earn your medal ...which will arrive with a
certificate in the letterbox.
Each Kiwi Guardians place has a different
medal - see how many you can collect. Over
9598 medals have been issued in the year since
the programme was started.
Paul Rochester and Alice Nash get inspiration
from an educational sign at one of the Adventure
locations. - Photo Paul Rochester.
Be a warrior in the War on Weeds – help
stop the spread of
invasive plants in NZ
and earn a medal!
Build a ‘Weta Motel’.
Earn a medal by
creating a protective
home in your backyard
for weta to crawl into, where they’ll be safe
from being eaten by predators like rats,
stoats, cats and hedgehogs.
Attract lizards by creating a protective
lizard lounge in your garden. Earn a medal
for becoming a habitat creator!
Become a Pest Detective. Earn a medal
by using your sleuthing skills to track pests
like stoats, rats and mice. Also learn how to
make a pest tracking tunnel.
NEW! KIWI GUARDIAN SITES
ON THE COROMANDEL
Kauaeranga Visitor Centre
and pORT jACKSON cAMPSITE
From counting rings in a tree trunk
to taking a torch to view glow worms... There’s
an adventure awaiting everyone!
GETTING KIDS INTO NATURE
COROMANDEL KIWIS...
Participate now by doing these
conservation actions from home to
earn Toyota Kiwi Guardian medals.
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