spring! It is indeed mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful in New Zealand. We went to the Wairarapa. There were plenty of lambs and calves and bright green grass, and it all screamed Spring! The trees are starting to bud out, and all the flowering trees are in bloom.
Waiohine Gorge tracks begin with this spectacular suspension bridge. New Zealand is the capital of suspension bridges! Most trails have several. But, this one is king! Even if you're not afraid of heights, you will be gripping the railings as the bridge starts swinging...especially if you look down and realize that you are hundreds of feet above the ground!
Ocean Beach road follows the coast all the way to Wellington--if you're brave enough to cross numerous streams, washouts, and sand-drifts. We tested the truck with a couple creek crossings and then decided we'd better not push it on our first day out. We camped out and Mac shorecasted late into the evening. Below: Lake Wairarapa is the third largest on the North Island. It's less of a lake than a giant swamp/wetland, and DOC has been good enough to build a walking trail through an area called Boggy Ponds. There was more bird life here than anywhere I've seen in NZ, and it is an absolute must for any birders coming here. We saw the rare, endangered Australasian bitterns in flight on two occasions. Below you can see their giant tracks juxtaposed against Mac's hand. That was a real treat, as bitterns are very secretive and usually you just hear their calls. | |
Palmy and surrounds are full of little hole-in-the-wall parks and recreation areas. You may encounter a person or two as you're hiking and biking in these overgrown (yet beautiful) spaces...or you may get it all to yourself. We have spent many a weekend trail running and biking in obscure pockets of the Tararuas and Ruahine ranges.
...
and siennaandmac come running from fishing and hiking and it's
spring!
I'm thinking of you, Cambria, as I write this! :)