• /
    • Archives /
  • 30/11/1999

Archives For 30/11/1999

A family adventure on Tiritiri Matangi

Sarah Mankelow —  28/05/2013

The family-focused conservation education programme Kiwi Ranger is being launched on Tiritiri Matangi Island this Queen’s Birthday weekend—for the first time giving Auckland kids the chance to be accredited as Kiwi Rangers.

Christchurch family Steve, Jenny and Meg visited Tiritiri Matangi while staying with family at Christmas. Having done two South Island Kiwi Ranger sites, they are now planning for a return visit to Tiritiri to earn their third badge. Jenny recalls their day:

Jenny and Meg on the boat to Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Jenny and Meg on the boat to Tiritiri Matangi Island

Steve had always wanted to go to Tiritiri, so we decided to go before Christmas—before the hordes. The forecast was not great, with cyclone warnings, but the day turned out beautiful.

We bought a guide book on the boat so, when we arrived, we headed straight up the Wattle Track, which meanders up to the lighthouse and visitor centre.

I heard a strange noise, and then we saw it—a takahē skulking in the bushes. Meg thought that was pretty great.

Jenny reading interpretation panels on the island.

Jenny reading the interpretation panels

We checked out the lighthouse and spent a bit of time looking at the really good history interpretation panels.

The old fog horn captured my imagination; I loved the old pictures of it originally sited over the cliff, and then seeing the replica one.

Walking on Tiritiri Matangi.

A wonderful day for a walk on Tiri

By then it was lunchtime, so we sat down in a big grassy area and ate while we chatted to the friendly DOC ranger.

We checked out the visitor centre and the shop, where I finished off my Christmas shopping. It seemed crazy shopping on an offshore island, but hey, they had some pretty funky things, and I felt good that my money was going to support a good cause.

Ground dwelling birds on Tiritiri Matangi.

Quail. Tiritiri Matangi is one of the most successful conservation projects in the world. Predators have been eradicated and rare native birds and animals have been returned to its now-safe and restored habitats

We walked along the ridge track and got nice views all around the Hauraki Gulf, and looked for things rustling in bushes.

Tui having a dust bath.

Tui having a dust bath

The most amazing thing about the trip was how close we got to the birds. On the mainland most forest birds hang out high in the canopy, but on Tiri they were actually scuttling around on the ground. We saw tui and quail having dust baths right on the track!

Jenny and Meg walking in the bush.

There is something magic about just wandering

We weren’t sure how long it would take to walk the tracks with Meg, so we played it safe and headed down the Kawerau Track. In hindsight we probably could have gone further, but in some ways it was quite nice not to ‘frog-march’ around the island. There is something really magic about just wandering—taking time to see things properly.

The Kawerau Track was a really special old piece of forest, with pūriri and other really cool trees that you just don’t see in the South Island.

Meg walking on track in bush.

We weren’t sure with Meg how long it would take to walk the tracks. In hindsight we probably could have gone further

Meg on track - Tiritiri Matangi

Meg

We had time on our hands so we ended up down on the beach and went for a swim before heading back to the boat.

We’d seen saddlebacks, takahē, amazing flowering rata and pohutukawa but, while we were waiting for the boat, we heard these people talking about seeing a kōkako. Steve was a bit disappointed to have missed that, so yes, we were thinking about coming back before we’d even left the island! And with Kiwi Ranger on the island now, Meg is pretty keen to get her hands on the badge. I know from having done it in other places it’s a great way to discover the hidden secrets of a place like Tiri.

When we come back we’ll walk some of the other tracks and we’d love to go stay overnight to hear a kōkako calling and experience the dawn chorus.

Meg was pretty quiet on the boat home. She sat leaning on the railing looking back towards the island as we pulled away. She’d had quality time with mum and dad, been for a swim, and seen some cool birds. It’s the kind of family time that makes for great memories, memories that last a lifetime.

Kiwi Ranger text with image of Tiri showing saddleback and lighthouse.

Kiwi Ranger is being launched on Tiritiri Matangi over this Queen’s Birthday weekend, 1-3 June 2013. Join Lucy Lawless to become one of the first Tiritiri Kiwi Rangers! 

Ferry company, 360 Discovery, are making it easy for families to travel to the island during Queen’s Birthday Weekend. One child may travel free with each fare-paying adult. Go to their website or call 0800 360 3472 to book.

The Kiwi Ranger programme will be ongoing, so visit any day Wed -Sun for a fun family day out with a difference.

In Auckland, Recreation , , , , ,
permalink

Doubtful Sound on the Southern Winds

Department of Conservation —  16/05/2013

By Kendall DeLyser, Ranger – Visitor Information, Te Anau.

Last week the team at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre took a trip to Doubtful Sound on the DOC vessel known as Southern Winds. What a wonderful experience!

A view of Doubtful Sound from up high.

The magical Doubtful Sound

A day out on Doubtful Sound is magic, no doubt about it. In sun, the massive landscape is breathtaking and the ocean puts on its best turquoise colour.  In rain, the hills take on a mysterious feel and countless waterfalls braid their way down the rocky cliffs.

Some of the Visitor Information team having a coffee on the boat.

Coffee break

For many of us the trip marked only the first or second journey to Doubtful Sound, despite living in Te Anau for many years.

southern-winds

The DOC vessel Southern Winds

That day, fresh snow blanketed the surrounding peaks, and the bright sun cut through the chill of the winter wind. Dolphins played in the wake of our boat.

A dolphin playing in the wake of the boat in Doubtful Sound.

A dolphin played in the wake of our boat

We identified the special islands and pest-free areas along the way, which helped us better appreciate the monumental projects that our DOC colleagues and conservation partners have undertaken there.

Some of the islands and special places in Doubtful Sound.

There were special islands and pest-free areas along the way

I think we all returned home that day with a better sense of Fiordland, and a different appreciation for the work DOC does to maintain the beauty of the place as we know it.

The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre team above Doubtful Sound.

The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre team

Start planning your own Fiordland experience: Visit the DOC website for more iconic Fiordland places to visit.

In Fiordland, Recreation , , , ,
permalink

Lower Acheron Historic Bridge restoration

Department of Conservation —  06/05/2013

The Lower Acheron Suspension Bridge in South Marlborough was built by engineering students from Canterbury University in 1945, with their brief being to build a bridge that would take ‘one man on a horse at a gallop’.

Before and after

Before and after

Having been closed to the public for years, the historic bridge is now just about ready to be used again, thanks to a team of dedicated DOC workers from the region who spent an ‘abusively hot’ two weeks dismantling and rebuilding the bridge, while retaining its original character.

Replacing the decking.

Replacing the decking

Two workers in DOC uniforms removing the screw jack.

The screw jack enabled the removal of the tower

All gear was taken in by road, with a helicopter used to carry over the timber and equipment needed. This involved a couple of early mornings for staff, who made up for a short sleep with an al fresco cooked breakfast beside the Acheron River.

Staff had attended a harness use and fall arrest training course before the project, and received further instruction on rope rescue at the site.

Planning and setting up fall arrest systems that would be effective at all times and still allow the staff to move around on the bridge was all part of the challenge, and only the occasional nut or bolt (and maybe a drill bit…) was lost over the edge of the bridge!

Screw jacks were used to take the weight of the main cables (which were still in good working order), while each tower was removed, rebuilt and reinstated. The steel connecting plates were able to be reused, but most nuts and bolts were new. Only one of the droppers, three transoms, about half the bearers and the decking was replaced – everything else was reused. The native beech wood was replaced with Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), a tough and strong hardwood timber.

Five DOC workers sitting and standing around two DOC utes sharing some food.

Well-earned breakfast

The bridge is part of the ‘Molesworth Journey’, an attraction that incorporates short walks, lookout points, picnic areas and other historic structures into the drive between Blenheim and Hanmer, through Molesworth Station. It provides visitor access to the other side of the river for fishermen, walkers and swimmers, and will continue to be maintained as a historic asset.

In Historic, Nelson/Marlborough , ,
permalink

Mystery of the moving bridge

Department of Conservation —  24/04/2013

Cornelia Vervoorn from DOC’s Franz Josef/Waiau Area Office shares photos from the recent repair of a bridge damaged by flood on the West Coast.

After a flood you can sometimes find DOC bridges washed miles from their original positions. What is more unusual is to find them in the same place but rotated 90 degrees.

The bridge on Lake Ellery Track that was damaged by flood.

The bridge appears to have made a 90 degree turn

We think that is what happened with the heavy rain a wee while back. The river backed up as the lake level rose slowly, gently lifting the bridge and turning it, rather than destroying it as normally happens!

This bridge is located on the Lake Ellery Track, south of Haast. The water level during the flooding was at head height for a person standing on the track.

DOC rangers fix the bridge on the Lake Ellery Track.

DOC rangers get to work fixing the bridge

The flood lifted the bridge and the concrete block it was attached to! The mystery of the moving bridge reminded some people of the magical moving staircases in the fictional world of Harry Potter.

The magical moving staircase in Harry Potter.

The mystery of the moving bridge was not as magical as some thought.

DOC rangers Cheryl and John have fixed it now and are pretty pleased about it as you’ll see!

11021_553111544719819_1577889759_n

DOC rangers Cheryl and John after fixing the bridge.

In West Coast , , , , , ,
permalink

The cruisers of Sunday Island

DOC on Raoul Island —  18/04/2013

Raoul Island is one of the Kermadec Islands, about 1000km north-east of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. DOC have a small team of staff and volunteers who live on the island in relative solitude. Their main focus is controlling weeds on the island, maintaining infrastructure such as buildings, roads and tracks, and carrying out work for Met Service and GNS.

Since the island is so remote, we get these diary entries from the team and post them up on their behalf. Today’s diary is by volunteer Katie Grinsted.

Interested in becoming a volunteer on Raoul Island? DOC is recruiting for volunteers for August 2013 to February 2014 now. See www.doc.govt.nz/raoulvolunteers for more information.

On our way

It has been just over a month since us five volunteers departed Auckland, waved goodbye to the world we knew, and began our life on Raoul Island. I have been to some pretty special places in my life but I think this may just take the cake. We are actually marooned on a (sub) tropical island. We’re stuck here with the volcanoes, the earthquakes, surrounded by sharks and we are lovin’ it!

The journey began with a five day crossing on the sailboat Ranui. Sometime on a Friday morning, the high cliffs of Hutchison Bluff appeared.  We were almost there!

Cripes! Look at this place! View of Raoul Island from the Ranui.

Cripes! Look at this place! View of Raoul Island from the Ranui

It seemed no time at all that we were onshore, after so long at sea firm ground felt like an illusion. Thankfully we were steadied by the welcoming arms of our new island mates. The nine Cruisers of Sunday Island united!

The island itself

Raoul Island is a beautiful place. Everyday as I walk around I try and take a moment or two to look around me and yell, more often out loud: “Woo hoo! So lucky to be here.”!

Despite being located so far from NZ, much of the flora and fauna here is identical or at least very similar, to NZ. The plant and animal life has had a boost with the removal of mammalian predators. The climate here is excellent for growing and everything here seems to shoot up so fast.

This is actually a five-finger tree for those of you who recognize it in NZ.

A five finger tree on Raoul Island.

Massive five finger tree. Woop!

What we do

With the animal pests removed it is now it is up to us to get rid of the other pests on the island – the unwanted plant species. Condemned for their lack of consideration for other plants, and their effects on the habitat of the animal species, the weeds on Raoul Island are the focus of the work here.

Volunteers weeding on Raoul Island.

Weeding – serious stuff on Raoul Island

The forest here is no walk in the park! Sometimes it is even a walk in a volcanic area!

Volcanic landscape on Raoul Island.

Volcanic landscape on Raoul Island

Yep! Weeding can take it out of you!

Volunteers lying on the beach.

Flat out on the beach after a hard day’s work

Downtime

But it is a lot of fun and life isn’t all hard work! There are plenty of other things to entertain your average cruiser. There are the water sports – snorkeling in New Zealand’s largest marine reserve for example…

Three people diving in the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve.

Having fun in the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve

And brewing high-quality beverages for another…

Volunteers check on the beer in the storehouse.

Checking out the brew

Then there are the forest sports. The other weekend we spent a night at the wee sky-blue Mahoe Hut before battling our way down a large dry waterfall to the coast. We emerged sweaty and exhausted but none the less, happy.

Mahoe Hut on Raoul Island.

Our weekend getaway, Mahoe Hut

And of course, there is the sport of ‘just cruisin’, a natural and accepted progression of island life…

Who could ask for more?

In Auckland, Raoul Island, Volunteers , , , ,
permalink