Photo Journey- Lake Brunner to Hokitika

Here are some photos that got left behind in the last couple of weeks...

Iveagh Bay, Lake Brunner from the water-

You'll remember David saving the swan signet, well we went out in the boat the next day to check on them. He was a little worried his saved signet had joined the wrong family....that one at the back looks a little smaller don't you reckon? 

Lake Brunner reflections-

Whitebaiting at the Hokitika River- this was last Tuesday, November 8th. Looking down from the bridge as one 'baiter returned from an island in the middle of the river.

This was taken today, a week later with the river in flood (after a few days of rain including 54mm overnight), the kayak above was sitting on the shingle in the middle of this pool.

Stands along the town side of the river-

Last week the stands below hardly reached the river and in fact, the one in the foreground was nowhere near the water-

And today, you can see the blue tarpaulin from the photo above, tucked into the scrub below-

Some whitebaiters fished from the town steps-

Today the water was one step from the top-

This stand is on our side, the south side, of the bridge, it's totally under water today.

And I had this one ready to post the other day, the title was 'High & Dry'- today he'd need a snorkel.

Sailing on the next tide? I took these photos of Sunset Point, at the mouth of the Hokitika River, today just after high tide. People come here to capture the sunset from the lookout on the concrete ship. It won't be long before the ship will be marooned on its own island, the waves were crashing over the point into the river behind-

I take my sunset photos from the other side of the river and over the fence from where we're parked....sometimes I'm just too lazy to stand around for half an hour waiting at Sunset Point. These ones from last week were a lucky surprise. And not only because of the lovely colour and the added interest of the cows.

It wasn't until I was processing the photos I suddenly spied not one, but two White Heron/Kotuku in amongst the cows! You can see one of them on the right in this shot. I'd been looking for herons in the paddock all day, I know they are regularly seen around the park and in fact we saw one resting on the house roof next door but I hadn't managed to spot them in the paddock.

It had been overcast for most of the day, then the clouds parted just as the sun went down. I didn't have time to get across the park to the clubroom deck where there is a clear view so I leant out over the fence (and received an electric shock for my efforts) and snapped away. The cows are wondering who was making all the noise! 

And here's a few more photos from Lake Mahinapua where we stayed the other night at the DOC camp and where we were when the 'quake hit. There's a good view of the snow covered Southern Alps behind those clouds.

Sunburst sailing dinghies, boats we are very familiar with. A very long time ago when we were in Napier, David had business making fibreglass Sunbursts for many secondary schools; it's the boat they use to train their sailors in.

While I was watching the yachts, I spied a White Heron/Kotuku hiding in the nearby reeds. 

Later I went for a couple of short walks, I thought I might get a good lake shot from Swimmers Beach. 

The 1km walk was lovely along a nice wide path through bush and ferns and over a couple of open glades. Towards the end a sign told me the beach wasn't too far away. 

Imagine my surprise (and anyone else who walked the track thinking they might take a swim) when it ended here. A small gap in the undergrowth with thick bush on either side. That was a huge disappointment. 

I suspect a long time ago when the lake was a popular place for early settlers to spent weekends picnicking and boating, and when there was a paddle steamer plying its trade on the lake, the beach was once a proper beach where people came to swim. Now the bush has regenerated and this is all that's left, it's now a name only. Maybe DOC should put that on their sign to save the disappointment.

Oh look, weka are back in my good books. This family of one adult and 3 chicks were feeding around the van at Lake Mahinapua.

The chicks were quite independent but came quickly when the adult found something to eat. They were all very submissive to the parent and came in from underneath when begging for food.

The parent was quite tough on the youngsters too, pecking and chasing them if they did something wrong. The chicks cowered down on the ground if they thought they were in trouble and waited until the parent moved off before dashing away.

Other times she took no notice when one or the other stuck like glue to her side (I'm thinking it was the mother).

How's that for an eclectic mix of photos!  

But wait there's more.......in another short blog coming soon (if there's a internet connection down the line)

Hokitika- Take 2

Real-time

Well, it's been an interesting (and frustrating) few days. We're back in Hokitika sitting out the wet weather again. And the aftershocks! It's a very lonely park too, I think everyone has headed home. What with the earthquakes and the severe rain storms that have been sweeping along the Coast over the last few days.

Of course our experience of the 'quake was nothing like the terrifying shake that Kaikoura and surrounds on the east coast of the South Island experienced but the initial earthquake, just after midnight on Sunday night, certainly shook the hell out of us and the van here on the West Coast which is not that far, as the crow flies, from the epicentre. It also kept us awake all night with the continuous jolts and shaking as the aftershocks came thick and fast.

This very aptly named motorhome was at the Hokitika Park when we arrived yesterday morning. I bet they were!

But, I have jumped ahead of myself, just as I get photos ready for a blog, we move sites so now I have to catch-up quickly before we head out again tomorrow (if the rain stops!). I'm hoping to post a second blog not long after this one, mainly with photos of the last few days to fill in a few more gaps. Keep your eye out for it.

Our stay at Lake Kaniere didn't end as well as we'd have liked. We arrived there last Thursday and David put the Takacat dinghy up that afternoon ready for a few days fishing. He left in light drizzle on Friday morning and not long after the drizzle turned to steady rain. Then it became heavy rain and by the time he returned home late in the afternoon it was torrential. He looked like a drowned rat and to add insult to injury he hadn't caught one fish, not even a pesky perch!

It then rained solid all night and blew up a gale, there were quite a few people in camp for the Christchurch Anniversary weekend, in small caravans and tents. The rain collapsed the roof of the gazebo tent next door and then the wind blew the sides in! I give them their dues though, they put the gazebo back up and stayed another night....when it rained again just as hard!

I was doing the dishes when they were packing up the next day (they did set up quite close to us) and smiled when I spotted the infamous Mrs Weka exiting their car while they were otherwise occupied! 

Saturday was a little better, I even managed a decent sunset before the heavy rain returned again during the night and by Sunday morning we were over it. Especially when we could see back on the coast, 20kms away, a distinct line of blue sky. Lake Kaniere can wait for another time (perhaps). At least we'd done most of the walks in the area on our last visit.

So we packed up and headed out just as the rain started again. Ten kilometres down the road the sun was shining and the roads were dry. Lake Kaniere is tucked under the mountains of the Southern Alps and obviously gets a lot more rain than the coastal strip back near the ocean, which is saying something as that area gets more than enough too.

We headed to the DOC camp at Lake Mahinapua, just 10kms south of Hokitika and not far from the ocean. The drive into the lake is one way through some beautiful bush.

Lake Mahinapua is a popular camping, boating and picnic spot and it was busy on a Sunday afternoon. 

We haven't stayed at the lake before but we did visit on one of our previous trips through and thought it would be a lovely place to stop.

We stayed hitched as we were only going to stay a night before heading off, south if the weather improved, or back to Hokitika if it deteriorated, as was forecast. Which was just as well as this is where we were when the 'quake hit early in the morning. It was very reassuring to know that nothing could fall on us and we wouldn't fall off our blocks either. 

The only issue was there was no internet connection so we couldn't let family and friends know we were safe and I couldn't keep up to date with the developing news via the newspapers, Twitter or Facebook. Luckily we were able to listen to the radio.

It rained heavily again overnight and keen to reassure family & friends and have access to up-to-date earthquake news we headed off early, back to the NZMCA Park at Hokitika. Where yet again, we had very heavy rain overnight; 54mm to be exact. It was torrential for over an hour, the noise on the roof was deafening and in fact it's probably the loudest I have ever heard it. And that is saying something because it is loud at the best of times. 

The Hokitika River, which is next door to the park, was in flood this morning. The whitebait season finished on the weekend and the 'baiters have a couple of weeks to remove their stands. I think nature might have done it for a few of them.

Treetop Walk & Lake Mahinapua

We’ve now arrived in Christchurch where we’ll be for the next week or so catching up on maintenance and preparing the van and it’s occupants for winter.

I must get on and post these catch up blogs, it’s beginning to feel like a lifetime ago when we were parked up at the Hokitika NZMCA park. I’ll try to keep the typing to a minimum and let the photos do the talking. We’ve done so much since Hokitika and seen more stunning scenery- we really do live in a beautiful country, such a diverse landscape in such a small package. And I’m only talking about a tiny section of the West Coast and high country Canterbury. Needless to say, I’ve taken hundreds of photos since these ones too.

How many New Zealanders recognise this hotel? Mahinapua Pub was made famous by a long running advertising campaign for Mainland Cheese. The exterior was the backdrop, and along with the two grumpy old men discussing the merits of Mainland Cheese, became world famous in New Zealand.

The hotel is located about half way along a very long (for the West Coast) straight just south of Hokitika and on this day we had a clear view of the Southern Alps and Mt Cook (Aoraki). We travelled this straight a few times while in Hokitika and on each occasion passed 2-3 police cars &/or a speed camera car parked on the road side. I guess this is where recent reports of speeding vehicles, some doing over 160kph, come from. It seems like the drivers have broken free from the narrow winding roads, with their one way bridges, further south and their foot has hit the floor.

Just south of Ruatapu (at the end of the straight) we turned inland and headed to one of the Coast’s newest attractions; the West Coast Treetop Walk which is located at the eastern end of Lake Mahinapua. The walkway opened in late 2012 and as soon as we drive through the entrance to the carpark we can see that building this attraction has been a major undertaking. It’s a lovely sunny afternoon and we decide we’ll have lunch at the cafe after we’ve done the walk; there are a number of groups enjoying lunch at the outside tables in the sunshine, I think this is also a meeting place for friends and families on weekend outings.

Getting to the beginning of the treetop walk involves a short steady climb to the top of hill behind the cafe, if required though, you can catch a ride up in a golf cart. Native trees and shrubs along the way have name plaques in front of them and there are also information boards on some of the native birds found in the forest.

The walkway is 20 metres above the forest floor and forms a 1.2km loop through the tree canopy.

A 107 step spiral takes you up to the platform of the 47 metre tall ‘Hokitika Tower’…..

As you climb the views down onto the walkway are impressive but if you don't want to get vertigo don't look past the walkway to the forest floor below….

Once at the top, the 360 degree views are spectacular. From up here you can see from the mountains to the sea. Looking east towards the mountains….

And north-west over Lake Mahinapua to the Tasman Sea; a tiny sliver of blue in the background.

The small platform at the end of this walkway arm provides a closer view of the lake shore; the end of the arm is cantilevered and has quite a bit of bounce about it, similar to crossing a swingbridge. There are over 13,500 bolts holding the structure together and it was designed to move with the wind which is just as well as the weather on the West Coast is not always as perfect as it was this day.

There are 11 numbered ‘stop’ points along the walkway which correspond to the numbers on a map & guide brochure received when you purchase your tickets. Each stop has informative information on birds to look out for, plants growing in the rainforest or on the tree at that point. Unfortunately we didn’t see any birds other than a couple of silhouettes flying past at great speed off in the distance.

While we enjoyed the walkway, I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t pass through a thicker forest canopy- perhaps we were a little underwhelmed because we have seen such beautiful lush rainforest in our travels. I’m not so sure it’s such a good representation to our overseas visitors of a West Coast forest though. We both thought it was a very brave person who undertook this impressive project and I'm sure once the under-story and the plants along the tracks and paths grow a little more it will have a more established feel about it.

We called in to the DOC reserve & camping ground at Lake Mahinapua on the way home. The entrance is off the main highway near the hotel, the drive in is through a narrow bush tunnel, it’s one way with the exit further down the road which is just as well as you wouldn’t want to meet somebody coming out, there’s no passing or turning around. The lake is a favourite spot of yachties and picnickers and much prized for its clear, colourful reflections from the surrounding bush.There are quite a number of walks in and around the lake but we decided we’d just have a look around today.

We were going to bring the van down here after Hokitika (there’s a large DOC campground), get the boat out again and stay for a week or so but because of all the grotty weather we’ve been having (yes, really) we decided we’ll not risk it this time and perhaps stay here when we come up from the bottom of the Coast later in our travels.

Lake Mahinapua is a shallow lake and only one metre above sea level. Steamers and barges used to ply the seven kilometre length transporting a constant flow of gold-seekers rushing from one strike to the another as rumours of riches flew up and down the coast. One of the old paddle boats is on display beside the lake.

We found this unusual RV parked in the campground. Look closely, it’s not a fifth-wheeler and it’s not a cab-over; it has wheels. Whatever it is, it’s rather cute & it’s somebody’s pride and joy.

Down on the lake front we find the vehicle that tows it; a ute with three tow balls; one on either side just below the back cab doors and one on the towbar. The well-side fits into the slots in the van, everything hooks up and away they go, the van being towed on it’s own wheels. Just like a trailer.

And preparing to go fishing in their inflatable dinghies, we found the owners (in the yellow life jackets) and their friends. We were a little worried about how much air was in the smaller dinghy especially when the husband climbed in and sat on the side. Luckily the lake was flat calm but I bet he had a wet bum before the outing was over. The dog appeared to be the most excited about going fishing leaning over the front and sides willing the others to hurry up and get a move on.

Just north of the lake entrance is the Mananui Bush Walk, a short 30 minute walk through bush to the beach and back. And what a beautiful day to visit the beach. It would seem that if visitors can’t build a stone cairn (or add a stone to somebody else’s cairn) they build a driftwood tepee! There were half a dozen or so tepees lined up near the exit from the track. At least it would be easy to find the track entrance again if you went for a walk down the beach; one sand dune looks like the next on a long beach like this.

How many places in New Zealand (and in the world for that matter) can you see snow capped mountains from a beach where it still feels like summer.