Take a tent and go exploring this Conservation Week

Pitching tents and exploring just over the fence are the key themes for this years’ Conservation Week from November 1-9.
Eastern Bay of Plenty activities kick off  early on Friday, October 31 with free family camping at Matata Campground for those who want to stay in tents.
Department of Conservation partnership ranger Steve Brightwell said most people drive straight through Matata, but there’s plenty to see and do with a great beach nearby and a newly upgraded track through the Matata Wildlife Reserve.
“We will have some staff on site on Friday night to make sure everyone is well looked after and has a great time. But plan to be early as the number of sites will be limited by available space.”
Mr Brightwell said the theme of making local discoveries would continue with other events and activities.
The Kiwi Ranger discovery booklets for Whakatane Footsteps of Toi  and Waikaremoana are good ways for kids to connect with conservation, he said.
“They are about sparking their imaginations by getting their feet dirty and exploring somewhere new, and we are offering an amazing in-the-field experience with DOC rangers as a prize that anyone who completes either booklet by November 9 could win.”
Whakatane Footsteps of Toi can be picked up from White Island Tours, Matata Campground or Cheddar Valley Pottery.
The Waikaremoana booklet is available at the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre or Waikaremoana Holiday Park and knocking it off could be a great add-on for those who join in Waikaremoana Holiday Park’s “Wild About Waikaremoana” event – a cool package deal with half price accommodation and a free barbecue dinner on Saturday, November 8 and a field trip with DOC staff the following morning.
Contact the holiday park to make a booking.
Another thing to do during the week is take a discounted price trip to Moutohora Whale Island at Dusk.
This is a brand new venture for White Island Tours and gives locals a great chance to be among the first to experience it.
For those who have time on Tuesday morning, there’s a very low cost (gold coin donation) option to join William Stewart of NativConnectioNZ to learn about his Ngati Awa heritage during a stroll along the Whakatane riverbank, while for the littlies there’s a special conservation-themed session of Bookaboo! at the Whakatane Library.
“And finally, we have one other opportunity which is really for those who like a bit of a challenge,” Mr Brightwell said.
Called “A Hard Bastards’ Holiday”, DOC will leading a group of volunteers for four days’ and three nights in Te Urewera putting out new DOC200 trap boxes.
“They’ll be hauling heavy packs around the hills for between eight and 11 hours a day and it’ll be shared food and accommodation,” Mr Brightwell said.
“But it is also free, and it will be a unique opportunity to see the best of Te Urewera Mainland Island and help out in a place that’s had intensive pest control for a significant period of time and now has a superb population of birds, especially kokako.”
Those who are keen for the challenge or who want to find out more about any Conservation Week activities should check out the Bay of Plenty listings on www.conservationweek.org.nz