July 9, 2014 Hinewai - Hugh - Hiking - (Seal, Paua, and Sheep Shearing)

Hugh Wilson talking with students 

Ok - not all Hs in the title. . . . anyway, on to our day in Hinewai. This is our first big hike. The day was drizzling and grey in the morning. We road up to the top of Banks Peninsula, and first met up with Hugh Wilson (NZ botanist and ecologist extrordanaire). Hugh gave the history of Banks Peninsula and how he came to becoming the caretaker of Hinewai. He had surveyed the entire Bank Peninsula and found (surprisingly) some native bush still present and he thought "If we could buy a bit of bush, and keep mammalian browsers out, the native bush would come back." Partnering with Maurice White Native Forest trust, they initially bought some land (109 ha in 1987) and have been increasing the amount of the reserve ever since (it is up to about 1250 ha today). They control browsing brushtail possums (introduced from Australia), and the bush has now risen above the exotic weed gorse. Lets take a look at Hinewai - the squad is taking a hike around the reserve (about a 10 kilometer walk, up and down!).

The group at the start of the track

Group near a big, old Totara tree

The hike started out with no rain - but we did encounter a bit of rain over lunch. We encountered lots of flora (broad leaf trees, red beech, black beech, tree ferns, lancewoods, fuchsia trees, kanuka, five-finger, seven-finger, stinging nettles [no touchy touchy!], Mahoe, and much more) and fauna (fantails, tomtits, silver eyes, brown creepers, wood pigeons, variable oystercatchers, and even a fur seal [see below]).

Black Tree Fern

Brief rest to enjoy the tree fern gully

The squad on route to the bottom

Muddy Feet!

After much slipping and sliding (no injuries!), and soggy feet, we made it to Otanerito Bay to look for Paua shells and relax on the beach. Incredibly, we saw a fur seal asleep on the rocks. First time we have seen this marine mammal in this area.

Looking for Paua in Otanerito Bay

Ahhh - sleeping fur seal

Sam and her collection - Happy "official" Birthday Sam! : )

Le'a and her collection

Success!

Ok, wait for it - on our way out, we encountered the farmer in a wool shed actually shearing sheep (with a team of people). We had to stop and take a look! Do click on this youtube video I uploaded to see a sheep get sheared!

Inside the wool shed

Ahh - back to Akaroa and to Chez la Mer Backpackers. Nighty night until tomorrow, Dr. H

Backpackers and enthusiasm!