There's plenty to see and do at the estuary.
The estuary walkway provides beautiful views, and there are signs along the way providing information about some of the birds you might see.
There is a lot of interesting wildlife at the estuary. As well as birds, the estuary is also home to some interesting plants and is an important habitat for native fish.
The Manawatū Estuary Trust enjoys giving people the opportunity to learn more about this amazing environ
Maakoako/Sea Primrose Samolus repens
Native. Not threatened.
A common estuarine plant around Aotearoa New Zealand, in many situations it can be a pioneer species moving in after an area has suffered a natural disaster. Afterward, other species move in, often overgrowing it, but even then, Maakoako survives under taller vegetation. For example, at the time of writing, at the end of Carter Crescent there is a patch of ‘lawn’ mowed by Council staff down to tide level. There is also a small patch easily seen from the viewing platform. Maakoako is a principal constituent of this patch of estuarine lawn. There is also a small patch easily seen from the viewing platform.
It has a pretty white flower which show from well before Christmas until the start of winter, a long season.
Besides Aotearoa New Zealand, it can be found in Australia, some Pacific Islands and Chile in South America.
NZPCN-samolus repens var repens