Wordless Wednesday

Oparara Basin

On our recent holiday (here and here) to the West Coast we walked in the Oparara Basin area.

half of Oparara Arch

The photos don't quite show the size of the Oparara Arch, it is ~40m high. 

arch from below

The colour of the river is caused by tannin.  Tannin leaches from decomposing leaves on the forest floor and stains the water, this happens in forests with high rainfall.  Luckily not on the day we visited, just light mist.

Oparara River

tannin stained river

possible quilting patterns

From the arch we walked to Moria Gate Arch.  Alot smaller yet still impressive.

Moria Gate arch

view of Moria Gate arch

Then on to Mirror Tarn, where in light rain it had good reflections, on a clear sunny day these would be amazing.

Mirror Tarn

Wordless Wednesday

Denniston

During our recent South Island holiday one of the reasons we stayed in the Westport area was to visit the Denniston Plateau.   Denniston has an interesting history and is pretty much abandoned.  

After reading Jenny Pattrick's two books; 'The Denniston Rose' and its sequel 'Heart of Coal' I was keen to visit.  While these books are novels they are based on the actual area and the coal industry in the 1880s.

This is part of the blurb from the backcover of 'The Denniston Rose'

The bleak coal-mining settlement of Denniston, isolated high on a plateau above New Zealand's West Coast, is a place that makes or breaks those who live there. At the time of this novel - the 1880s - the only way to reach the makeshift collection of huts, tents and saloons is to climb aboard an empty coal-wagon to be hauled 2000 feet up the terrifingly steep Incline - the cable-haulage system that brings the coal down to the railway line. All sorts arrive here to work the mines and bring down the coal: ex-goldminers down on their luck, others running from the law or from a woman or worse. They work alongside recruited English miners, solid and skilled, who scorn these disorganised misfits and want them off the Hill.

The Denniston Rose is about isolation and survival. It is the story of a spirited child, who, in appalling conditions, remains a survivor. 

View towards Westport

The day we went there was abit overcast and quite cold.  A bit odd in summer to be wearing a woollen top, fleece jacket and ski jacket!  At least it wasn't raining or foggy.

parts of the incline looking towards Waimangaroa on the coast

DOC and the 'Friends of the Hill Society' have done a great job with the signage and promoting the area.  

top of incline track

As we wandered around the collection of abandoned rusty objects was quite impressive. 

There was some evidence of where people lived with brick chimney remains, steps between various areas.

We ventured further up the plateau and explored the areas around Burnetts Face and the other settlements.  We gained some understanding of how bleak it must have been and it wasn't even winter.

high on the plateau

abandoned mine shaft

Wordless Wednesday

Punakaiki

A bit more of our South Island holiday.  We took a day trip to Punakaiki, in Paparoa National Park.  Punakaiki is known for its pancake rocks and blow holes.  For some of the way the road goes along the coast and the scenery is spectacular.

We arrived at Punakaiki in time for the high tide. The blow holes are more impressive at high tide and even more so if there is a swell (which there wasn't really).

 

The easy walk around the cliff tops takes less than 30 minutes - depending upon how long you take to watch the blow holes.  When you're not looking at the coastal view the view back inland is flax (Harakeke), flax, a bit more flax and Nikau palms, then high hills covered in bush and Nikau palms. 

Harakeke (flax)

flowering Nikau

a squat Nikau

The day we left the West Coast we also drove past Punakaiki and it happened to be high tide again.  We just had to stop as that day was windy and the sea was quite choppy in contrast to the first day that was mostly sunny and calm.

Another natural feature is the Punakaiki Cavern, this is adjacent to the main road and access is quite easy.  The cave goes in ~140m and apparently there are glow worms - we learnt this on the way out so hadn't been looking for them!  We were rather noisy so maybe they had switched themselves off.  We all had head torches and once you got used to ducking and the slippery rocks it was fun.

cave exit

inside (odd light due to flash)

More snaps

Continuing from my previous post with a few snaps of the Cape Foulwind (near Westport) area.

 

We rented a great house (click here), included was a curious Weka.  Sometimes the baby visited as well.

setting sun, near Cape Foulwind lighthouse

Omau is a tiny settlement ~1km from Cape Foulwind and perched on the clip tops.  It took me a couple of walks to discover the track down to the beach.  The beach is quite small and rocky and almost disappears at full tide.  

towards Omau, with Westport in the distance

At Tauranga Bay (just a bit down the coast) is a fur seal colony.  It is well known for being a great surfing beach (well according to the various signs), also The Bay House Cafe this looked like an interesting cafe - unfortunately we didn't get to dine there.

mother fur seal and baby

another Weka

typical West Coast scenery

To the other side

We've just spent 10 days in the South Island.  An uneventful trip on the Kaitaki ferry - uneventful across Cook Strait is welcome.

After overnighting in Picton we headed for Westport (~300km).  This was an all day trip with a number of stops.  First stop in Blenhiem at BV Gourmet Cafe/Deli, for great coffee and food.  

As we drove along State highway 63 near a Wyeburn Forest we came across a road-side farm stall selling just the best and freshest Raspberrys and Boysenberrys - they didn't last long!

A brief stop at Lake Rotoiti, brief as it was icy cold and there were bugs.  

Lake Rotoiti

Birds became a bit of a theme for our holiday, more later.


 




A walk through the bush at Lyell, to the cemetery on a steep bush covered hillside.  The scenery had certainly changed - we were definitely on the West Coast.

Cemetery, Lyell

One way road beside/under Hawks Crag

Looking towards Hawks Crag, Lower Buller Gorge

Cape Foulwind, Lighthouse

We spent four nights at Omau, Cape Foulwind, ~10 minute drive from Westport.  












More to come ...