On The Trail

The Bealey Track, Arthur's Pass.

It rained the day we tackled the Bealey River Valley (part of Tuatara Tour's West Coast Trail) but that didn't seem to matter. It wasn't cold and the misty, inclement conditions added a certain moodiness to the hike that only enhanced the rugged beauty of this potentially wild place. The first part of the hike, through beautiful tussock and alpine beech forest, is blessed with terrific wooden boardwalks, which made the going very easy. Clambering over the huge river boulders in the second stage of the walk (to the foot of Mt Rolleston), wasn't quite so easy. www.tuataratours.co.nz

Into The Green

Everything was Green

Multiple Shades of Green

Except for One Red Jacket

As we hiked into the Pororari River Valley

North of Punakaiki

On the West Coast Trail this time last week.

www.tuataratours.co.nz

Rockclimbing Heaven

Castle Hill, Arthur's Pass. Dec. 2008. Ajr

Castle Hill is one of my favourite South Island landscapes - grassy hills covered in weird limestone rock formations - clusters of almost-animate-looking forms that rockclimbers and boulderers delight in. The area also has special meaning to the Ngai Tahu tribe and there are ancient rock drawings that attest to early Maori frequenting the rocks. This is where we started our 4-day Tuatara Tours West Coast Trail - not that this particular bit could have been considered 'a real walk;' rather, it was our lunch spot. From there we went further down the road and climbed up through beech forest to the Lyndon Saddle. www.tuataratours.co.nz.

For other hiking images click on West Coast Trail or The West Coast below this post.

Coastal Forest

The Truman Track

Punakaiki, West Coast

Dec. 2008 Ajr

On Day Three of Tuatara Tours' West Coast Trail

We walked the twenty short minutes from the highway to the coast.

It's one of the loveliest short walks I've done - lush, green, varied and ending with a spectacular view over wild west coast seas and a quiet, unpopulated sandy cove. It's particularly notable for it's beautiful stands of nikau palms - supposedly the southern most palm in the world.

http://www.tuataratours.co.nz/

To see other images from the hike click on The West Coast or West Coast Trail in the label line below

Fern Forest

A FOREST

Of Miniature Ferns

Punakaiki

West Coast

Dec.2008. Ajr

Dinosaur Country

Bullock Creek Track, Paparoa National Park, West Coast, South Island. Dec. 2008. Ajr

It was all mood and mist the day we tackled the Bullock Creek and Cave Stream Walk.

The drizzling rain descended (non-stop), the clouds enshrouded the huge limestone escarpments and all we needed after that was a dinosaur to emerge from the mists. It seemed likely - or maybe I was just a little dazed after climbing dozens of steps.

All this was part of the Tuatara Tours West Coast Trail - a terrific four-day excursion that takes in some of the West Coast's best walks. www.tuataratours.co.nz

If you click on The West Coast or West Coast Trail below this post, you'll see other images I took during the four days of hiking.

Fern Frenzy

Native ferns

South Island Bush

The West Coast

www.tuataratours.co.nz

Going Bush

Top: Truman Track; Centre: Bealey Track; Bottom: Cave Creek Track. Dec. 2008. Ajr

For the last four days I have been immersed in the lush greenery of the West Coast. I’m not a big hiker of note but, having invested heavily in a pair of expensive tramping boots, I decided to test them – just three days after pulling them from their tissue-lined box. Everyone had wise words to say about that foolish move but I’m pleased to announce that my boots and I bonded instantly and there wasn’t a blister in sight. I took on the West Coast Trail, a fantastic combination of walks over six or seven well known West Coast walks, organised by Tuatara Tours of Christchurch. Starting at Castle Hill in Arthur’s Pass and working our way steadily through limestone escarpments, beech forests, tussock lands, alpine bush, native rainforest and sub-tropical nikau forests, we ended up in the Porarari River Valley, north of Punakaiki – wet but otherwise no worse for the wear. The best bit for me, was the chance to exercise my camera finger. I came home with over 700 photographs and am now steadily culling them. There will be more! www.tuataratours.co.nz