HIkikng boots outting

So my hiking boots finally arrived from America last week. It was painful to purchase a new pair here at 3x the cost, when a perfectly good pair was sitting on the back porch at my parents house (or wherever I carelessly left them).

The boots were a perfect excuse to go for a walk around the southern coast of Wellington. Wellingtons's shoreline is very much coastline, with few 'beaches" in the traditional sense. We borrowed a car and went to explore along the yellow line on the map below.




At the trail head, we saw a sign that intrigued us for a moment..

The last property at the end of the road was for sale. On one hand, absolutely amazing view of the ocean just across the road, on the other hand you are pretty isolated. This is only 15 minutes from the city airport, but you feel like you are in Timber or Trolley Park. Probably the only type of beach front property we could even consider affording in our life time :)




But one we put aside dreams of beach property, we started our walk...


Along the way are a few 'baches' which I assume are grandfathered in. They were classic kiwi baches, very no frills, and very much reminded me of something my father would design/create.




As you can tell, its a fairly bleak landscape, but also hauntingly beautiful with little surprises along the way. This pond area was striking in contrast to the surrounding areas.

Just out of the shot are a bunch of male seals that I didn't notice until the walk back.

The beach here is all gravel and rocks, with a bit of dark sand. Its the type of beach that I find soothing for thinking and walking, but some might not enjoy as much.


The geology along the route is also very striking. I found myself wishing the my geo prof from Northwestern or my friend Alex was there to help explain it all to me.


the 'red rocks' that are the name sake of the trial..





Along the way, a couple local boys offered us a ride in their pick up truck. Trav hopped in, so I had no choice to follow. The boys said to stand and hold on to the bar. Major flashbacks to land surfing in high school. I was terrified and having the time of my life all at the same time. They didn't go very fast, but it felt fast with all the curves and funny grades. They dropped us off before they continued on to Devil's Gate, but we caught up with them as they drove back through it. There is a photo of them driving through something I NEVER would have considered taking a wheeled machine through - maybe a mule, but not a truck.


Traveler finding his way through the path we'd just seen the truck go through. The rocks were like steps, I still can't believe the truck pulled it off...


On either side of Devil's Gate is the seals colony. I guess the male season hang out here, while the mothers and baby seals chill on the South Island. You might have to click on the photo and look closely, but there are probably dozens of seals in this photo. The rocks were covered with them.


Then we made our way back toward civilization.

And if we would have kept going, we would have ended up at Island Bay and still further to Lyall Bay (where the airport is)

Cormandel 2 - hiking around Coromandel Town

After the train ride, we went for a walk, starting in this very damp parking lot.   I was yearning for my rubber boots, because a puddle like this is just too tempting. My trip mates though I was crazy I think as I eyed this mud puddle....



At the start of the trail you could some of wind damage from the recent storm that passed through a few days before our arrival.  I am always impressed with how trails in New Zealand often start near development with a path between houses, fences, or yards that connects the bush trail with the road/parking lot. It is very nice to see that one built house doesn't block everyone from being able to access a nature reserve.



This view is looking back towards the train area and the town of Cormandel


and these views are looking west /northwest.



After we reached the top, we walked down to the harbour side.  The tide was out, but I couldn't help being confused by these trees submerged in silt. I don't know if it was related to the storm or if its just the way they grow. Please comment if you know, I'm curoius!

 

Then at the end of the day, we enjoyed meals of cheese, cheese and more cheese.  The little town has an amazing shop with fruit rollups/leathers, cheese, salami's etc.

The cheeses on the plate include cumin gouda and a basil cheese that was intense but good.  

I still am cracking up about my purchase of fruit leather.  People were stopping me in the street to ask what it was!  I explained that it is fruit pulp that you dry in a deyhrator.  People were very curious about how you eat it, think that it must be spread with something or eaten with crackers... I even had people wanting samples of this crazy exotic thing I was eating.  I thought it was hillarious, particularly because I had bought the stuff just up the street and was something I just grew up with!

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

Well in many places a wildlife sanctuary involves big cats and other creatures from exotic places... it might also include bears or wolves. You know things that eat you or can at least cause damage, such as buffulo. In other words you are protecting animals from being killed by the people annoyed by them for being themselves in the land we've decided to inhabit.

Karori has a different type of sanctuary
 
one that protects native animals, which primarily means protecting birds from the scary mammals humans have introduced. These scary mammals are pretty tame for us tall primates or for birds that fly, but for the native birds of NZ, cats, possums and rats are very bad news. So all the wildlife here seems very very tame and docile, that is why they need protecting.

One way the sanctuary protects them is the creation of a huge, custom made fence around the perimeter. There are also sub fences within the sanctuary to isolate specific wildlife from each other so that one doesn't dominate the other during the early years of reestablishing numbers.

Another strategy is by tracking invasive specifies that get past the fence (say hawks dropping them from the sky) and setting traps as needed

 
They also do a bit of educational work, such as this display on non-native garden plants that are threatening local plant life.  This one is Old Man's Beard Traveller's Joy
 
The sanctuary raises monies through a lot of sources.. one being creating a haven for paying city dwellers to 'recreate.' Traveler and I were happy customers today, and even signed up for a membership. The payment scheme is kindof funny It is a bit expensive for a single visit, but only $40 for an individual membership and $55 for a couple! I guess that means that tourist can pay more with their overseas currency but the park can still be affordable to locals. We're members now, and I'm hoping we make time to go several times each month. The entrance is only a 20 minute walk from our house.

These are some of the things we can enjoy at the park











And this is a peek hole into one of the valves...


And here is the fish tank that Traveler was thrilled to finally locate
 
The plant life is interesting as well
 





Best of all, this was a place I loved when I visited in 2005 and it was so nice to finally share it with Traveler. 

for more info check out: http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/