There's lots to learn at an estuary which, of course, was the reason for a school trip to the Pauatahanui Estuary, about 20 minutes by bus from Redwood School. It was a lovely sunny day when several classloads of year 5 & 6 kids along with teachers and a few parent helpers explored the estuary bed at low tide before moving on to the wildlife sanctuary to learn something (perhaps not a whole lot, but something) about the plants and wildlife there. If only the seabirds (and suchlike) had known our mission was to observe them in their native habitat, they might have made more effort to have been there. As it was, they didn't and most on that particular occasion seemed to be elsewhere. With lots else to see and do, the day trip to the estuary was well worthwhile.