Miranda
North of the Hauraki Plains extends the Firth of Thames into the Hauraki Gulf. To the east the Coromandel Peninsula is found, to the west the Hunua Ranges are rising. The wetlands of the Firth of Thames consist of extensive intertidal mudflats (about 8500 hectares), which are the feeding grounds for flocks of migratory wading birds. Along the Miranda coast large shell banks were formed over the past 4500 years, which provide roosting areas for the waders at high tide. This offers excellent opportunities for watching the birds.
In 1990 the area was listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Read more about this topic: Miranda Naturalists' Trust