A Close Encounter

with Short-finned Eels Anguilla australis  in the river at the Flip'n Bear Café near Katikati:

A spectre from the deep

The Methuselah of the deep (well the shallow actually but it doesn't sound so dramatic).

See, even eels can rock climb

Competition

Biggest wins

Jaws

Some people will do anything for a photo

and some will do anything for a piece of bread

Here's looking at you, kid

Methuselah again with his crown

I think this is one too many eel photos

Electric eel?

The Flip'n Bear Café

On the way back from Miranda we did a bit of sight-seeing (well you would, wouldn't you?)  which I'll blog on in due course and then we stopped for coffee and a bite to eat at The Flip'n Bear Café near Katikati.  The café had a wonderful setting and lots of atmosphere.  We were the only customers and the service is slow which suited us because we wanted to see and photograph the Short-finned Eels Anguilla australis in the river running nearby.  

The outside deck - surrounded by native forest

A comfortable interior with bears a plenty

The 'ah' factor

And a Manic Pancake Eater (by our standards the pancake was too huge to finish although I know that my friends in California will not be impressed.