Here at Komokoriki we have a north facing hill of grass that stretches up from the house paddock to the top of the ridge. This flat area of grass perched almost at the ridgeline is protected by the tall bush from the southerly with the hill dropping steeply away on both sides.
It’s a wonderful vantage point with the valley opening up in front and bonus views nearby … of Kereru doing stall dives, Grey Warblers trilling in the bush edge, Fantails practicing aeronautic twirls as they forage for insects, and even a Tomtit putting in an appearance during my latest visit.
To the west is dense mature podocarp forest and on that fenceline there is tall, old manuka that gives way to Puriri and Rimu trees – jewels of green among the ferns and understorey natives. It’s a deep valley of native trees that falls steeply from the ridge and provides a sanctuary for the birds. Tomtit usually frequent the lower valley, Tui disappear deep into the thickest trees, and Kereru nest up near the ridgeline, close to their favoured large Puriri tree. Above and around the hilltop grass, stretching along the ridgeline, are mostly beautiful kauri trees, rimu, nikau and kahikatea too.
To the east of the hilltop are slopes of regenerating native bush with punga and manuka the dominant trees nearby and far too much gorse and weeds among it. Below the regenerating bush is a small housing area that struggles for sunshine hours. Beyond and around this valley to the east is another nearby range of hills covered in podocarps – and the occasional pine tree. About 50 hectares of bush in view there.
Our grassy hilltop is protected by the dense ridges of native bush. It’s warm and quiet there, isolated from most worldly intrusions. The ground is covered with a thick mantle of kikuyu grass and fringed below with goat-sculpted gorse bushes. On a still, sunny day or when the wind is southwest, it’s a warm haven for goats and people. It’s a great place to take time-out and decompress. Happiness is lying in the long grass, soaking up the sunshine and gazing down the valley!