The picture above shows Mt. Tapuaenuku which is the highest mountain outside the Southern Alps in New Zealand. It is 2885 metres and can be seen from many sites in Marlborough. Captain James Cook named it Mt. Odin but later nicknamed it the “watcher” as his ship seemed to be visible from it at many points along the coastline. The late Sir Edmond Hillary was turned back by this mountain in one of his earlier attempts.
We went for a day trip to a wild and natural area inland from the Kaikoura Coast called “the Zoo”. We had heard of the good birding and botany opportunities that exsisted there. With the kind permission of the local landowners, we where able to take our 4WD vehical over the well maintained farm tracks to access the Zoo.
We sighted Black Shag and White Faced Heron at a farm watering hole before we reached the farm house. A Fantail and wood pigeon(kereru) at the homestead was seen and we heard numerous Bellbird ,Pheasant and a Kingfisher. Quail and their bumble bee sized young ran at the side of the road.
Yellow bait stations for the eradication of Oppossum were at regular intervals and we have been told these have resulted in much improved bird numbers. The marsupial Oppossum were introduced to New Zealand for their skins but have become an ecological nightmare, eating native forest and destroying nests.
As we entered the interior of the high county farm we were rewarded by literally breath taking views. It was very hard not to be distracted and lose our position on the excellent handdrawn map we had been supplied to take us to our destination. We decided that the journey was the destination.
The amazing views continued and after a 30 minute drive we arrived at the Zoo pleased that we had not taken a wrong turning on any of the many tracks we had passed. It was noon so we stopped at the Zoo DOC hut for lunch. The hut was in good order and left very tidy by previous occupants.
Rather than walking the DOC track up the hill, we decided to explore the Zoo swamp to the West.
Along the edge of the swamp we found a small stand of beautiful trees. Their trunks were contorted like old olives with very stringy bark. The leaf we could not identify, we enjoyed their shade and photographed them for some time.
We were told that they are a rare native species called Olearia hectorii. Note how the bark looks like a mass of lizards!
Exhausted from fending off Fierce Spainards (Aciphylla ferox) we decided to walk a short way into the bush sticking to formed tracks.
There we found by a waterfall a Haka or New Zealand Violet (Viola cunninghamii) which clearly loves the moist environment.
After a period of quietly waiting and listerning we were honoured with the visitation of two yellowcrowned parakeet. The first I had seen. One watched me with curiousity for about a minute. Unfortunately our photos do not do them justice. We also had the priviledge of hearing and briefly sighting the shy Rifleman.
After a rest at the hut it was time for the return trip which was possibly the highlight.
Manuka were in full flower at the time and gave a beautiful display and spicey fragrance.
Epilobium pycnostachium we found growing in the scree about 40 metres above the truck.
A wildflower called New Zealand Bluebell ( Wahlenbergia albomarginata) growing on the roadside.
We saw Tomtits and New Zealand Robins on our return trip. What an awesome day. When you return from a place like this you know that your problems are small in scale compared to the great symphony nature.
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