Tuesday we decide to explore the area around Hokitika. Although the city is the second most populated on the west coast of the South Island, there are only 3,600 residents. There's not much to see in-town. However it is large enough to support the approximate one million visitors each year.
We start with a 20 minute drive to Lake Kaniere. It is a beauty. Along the lakeshore is the Kahikatea Forest Walk. Similar to some other trees native to New Zealand the kahikatea was over-harvested as the export industry grew years ago and now the trees are only found in small areas. The path through the trees is dense and eerie. We are half expecting a hobbit to appear around the next bend in the path.
Further around the lake is the Canoe Cove Rimu Forest Walk. As you can guess, we walk for about 40 minutes through rimu trees and around Canoe Cove. A nice walk.
Back in the car William points the car toward the top of the lake. The paved road turns to gravel and becomes more narrow. We go over a multitude of one lane bridges and around curves and begin to wonder if we are on the right road. But, we go over another bridge and see one of the green and gold Department of Conservation signs. We have arrived at Dorothy Falls. Yeah! The bottom 2/3rds of the falls are visible from the bridge and there is a short path that takes us to the base. It's very picturesque- exactly what I think a waterfall in the wilderness will be.
There's only one other couple at Dorothy Falls. They're from north of Auckland and are spending several months enjoying the South Island. We confer about the route to Hokitika Gorge, our mutual next destination, then we leave them to their picnic lunch. We're starting to get hungry. We have water, but made the mistake of not bringing snacks. We think we'll find a cafe on our route, but alas we do not. We vow to never go out exploring again without some provisions to tide us over.
Back in the car William points the car toward the top of the lake. The paved road turns to gravel and becomes more narrow. We go over a multitude of one lane bridges and around curves and begin to wonder if we are on the right road. But, we go over another bridge and see one of the green and gold Department of Conservation signs. We have arrived at Dorothy Falls. Yeah! The bottom 2/3rds of the falls are visible from the bridge and there is a short path that takes us to the base. It's very picturesque- exactly what I think a waterfall in the wilderness will be.
There's only one other couple at Dorothy Falls. They're from north of Auckland and are spending several months enjoying the South Island. We confer about the route to Hokitika Gorge, our mutual next destination, then we leave them to their picnic lunch. We're starting to get hungry. We have water, but made the mistake of not bringing snacks. We think we'll find a cafe on our route, but alas we do not. We vow to never go out exploring again without some provisions to tide us over.
After 40 minutes of farm fields and pretty scenery we arrive at Hokitika Gorge Swingbridge. The gorge is mostly granite while the Hokitika River and it's pools are a beautiful milky blue-green from the copper and other minerals in the water. We hike to the swingbridge and then across it. It's a little worrysome that the sign limits the bridge to six people at a time, but the bridge only mildly sways and bounces. On the other side of the river and a little further upstream there are groups of people swimming in the pools and sunbathing on the rocks. A perfect afternoon activity!
We head back to Hokitika for a "dunch" (dinner/lunch). Toward evening we walk into the city center and onto the beach. Hokitika Beach receives a lot of driftwood and a couple of weeks ago there was a driftwood sculpture competition. Many of the sculptures remain and/or new sculptures have been added. A fair number of people have gathered on the beach for the sunset. It is beautiful and there's a cheer when the last bit of sun goes below the horizon.
RSS Feed