Kai Iwi Lakes, New Zealand

Kauai campground stream, our starting spot for the day.

When you are traveling to as many places as we have planned, it's sometimes hard to study the maps in as great a detail as you'd like.  There have been many days where we're studying the map for a destination a day or so away and what to do in that area.  Kai Iwi Lakes is one of those destinations.
They are a series of lakes, fresh water and totally rain dependent, located 4-5km from the Eastern shore.  The day we choose to visit was super windy and the tranquil blue waters were white-capped and blowing off the tops.

Tom had received an e-bird report of some species to watch for in this area, Dad had never been there and the photos of it I'd seen, looked like I needed my own photo.

The white, silicone-like sand made a beautiful contrast to the turquoise blue water.  The shallow shelf is very obvious as to where it ends!

We actually made two visits here, hoping for a warm, calm day, for some swimming.  It was not to be.  The weather here has changed to fall, and the air is not quite warm enough to counter the slightly chilly water!

On leaving the first day, there was this really cool, pond area with amazing colors.  Not much in the way of bird life, except for a dozen or so kingfishers.

Tom and I have come to really like the 'Ponga' or black fern, especially the curl of a new frond. I finally found one at eye level.

We ended up at Bayles Beach about 6km as the crow flies, 35 by road.  Also windblown, and overcast, but I did manage to find a few handblown items on the beach!