Longbush Reserve, Gisborne
In search of somewhere refreshing and quiet on Sunday afternoon - we decided to visit Longbush Reserve - a place where many Gisborne folk including this writer - spent many a Summer day swimming, relaxing and enjoying the country and beautiful bush, when much younger.
Please Note: The SIGN at the entranceway - LONGBUSH is a private reserve for the protection of native plants and animals.
Visitors are welcome, but please stay on the tracks, be careful around electric fences, traps and streams, and take care of this precious riverside bush.
Website: http://longbushreserve.org/
To our amazement - the place was deserted - yet sooo peaceful, and it was wonderful to find that so much care and effort has been put into restoring and re-planting.
The native bird life is plentiful and a delight as this photo of a Kereru shows.
Longbush is approx. 10 km from the Ormond Road / Stafford Street corner in Gisborne. Stafford Street morphs into Riverside Road as you drive out into the country.
The final 2 ks being gravel - and one is encouraged to drive to the conditions, with care and respect for fellow travellers, as it can be very dusty in the hot weather.
One of the surprises was the amazing WAITUI bridge that has been built over the creek . . such a well crafted effort, such a credit to those who built it.
Water flowing under the WAITUI Bridge . . .
