Every time I bike around the Manukau Harbour it gets a little bit better.
The planted natives have grown a little taller, and they're sifting out some of the run-off from our roads and farms.
Birds are growing in number - the other day a family of royal spoonbills, on this day a mighty flock of bar-tailed godwits, eating as much as they can before setting off on their epic, non-stop journey of 10,000 km or more (in just nine days!).
And, if you watch carefully, in the second video you'll see a happy kahawai chasing sprats around in one of the harbour's feeder streams.
Right now is a perfect time to take the kids for a ride - there's at least 20km of tracks from Ambury Farm out to the Otuataua Stonefields - all broad, flat gravel paths which children of seven or older should be able to handle with ease. Try to choose a day or an early morning with no wind, as it would be tough going for child to battle the sou-wester!
