July 31, 2014 Third Time's The Charm - Birdlings Flat

Kaitorete Spit along Lake Ellesmere

Another beautiful day with strong winds and warm temps. We started the day entering over 100 species of plants and animals that we have seen on Nature Watch NZ (see http://naturewatch.org.nz/ and look for UF Biodiversity course under projects). The students (or the squad) wanted to go back to Birdlings Flat and we also decided to take the 18 km trip along Kaitorete Spit is New Zealands second longest sand spit hosting several unique species of flora and fauna, including the only native spider with a poisonous bite, the Katipo (don't worry, they are very rare and we did not see any). 

Little did we know the adventure (especially for me) driving the Gatorwaka through quite a few paddocks with a gravel road and judder bars. I wanted to explore the spit (having never been there) and see were the salt water meets the fresh water of the lake. On y va! (french for here we go)

Gate keeping across paddocks.

Sooooooooooo cute!

First up was some marvelous up close views of ewes (sheep that is of the female kind) with their newly born lamb. Lots of ohhs and ahhhhs and their so cute from the squad. The road to the end of the spit was a mixture of pasture, natives (small shrubs, Muehlenbeckia astonii), and of course lots of beach with ROCKS to collect.

Ewww of a different kind.

Rocks, glorious rocks!

View out across the Pacific Ocean.

When we go to the opening where the ocean met the lake, we saw freshwater pouring out of Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora). It looked green and full of silt. Lake Ellesmere is one of the most polluted lakes in New Zealand (see https://www.selwyn.govt.nz/facilities-and-parks/facilities/lake-ellesmere) and it used to be a big fishing area, particularly for flounder and eels caught by local Maori. However, wastewater runoff from farms (loaded with nitrates) has polluted the lake and there is an effort to improve the lakes water quality by changing farming practices upstream. See also http://www.wet.org.nz/  We had a close look at where all the nutrients go from the urban and rural  landscape. It even relates to back home where plenty of Floridians dump fertilizers on their lawns, and most of the fertilizers end of up our ground water and waterways. One can see our clean/clear springs changing right before our eyes!

We ended the day relaxing on Birdlings Flat (of course collecting more rocks). Watching gannets and other birds fishing and eating fish. 

Dr. H

July 15, 2014 - And They're Off...In Search of Kiwi!

Breakki at Maggie's

Getting our gear in gear this morning at the Rev

Our morning started cold and bright!  Waiting a day really paid off with a high pressure system forecast to remain with us here on the West Coast for a few days!  We started off with a hearty breakki in Greymouth at Maggie's Kitchen - Thanks Allen!

Singing Frozen songs in the van

At the start of the Croesus Track

First swing bridge at Smoke-ho Creek

Next we all squeezed into the Gatorwaka and were serenaded by the girls singing Frozen songs as we drove to Blackball (of course Mark had to stop for some famous Blackball salami for the hike as well) to the start of the Croesus Track.  Tupe and I hiked to the first swing bridge before heading back.

Their rout today and tomorrow

"The Squad," as they liked to call themselves, will be heading up to Ces Clark Hut for the night in search of great spotted Kiwi.  If nothing else, the sky will be clear and amazing with stars tonight and a view of the Southern Alps in the morning for sunrise.  Tomorrow, our group will hike across to Barrytown where Tupe and I will pick everyone up.

Can't wait to hear about their adventure - stay tuned, Meryl : )

July 12, 2014 Market to Match by Moonlight (and a lot in between)

We started our day sampling some of the delicious treats at the Riccarton Bush Market in Christchurch.  Some of us stuck with pastries, while others went for more exotic chicken satay and sausages at just 10am.  Good thing it is cold and we are just keeping fueled up.

Riccarton Bush Market!

Freeze Dried Food at Katmandu

Speaking of food, we then stopped to get our freeze-dried food for the West Coast hike we will take this coming week on the Croesus Track before heading out to Sumner to check out the Cave Rock on the beach.  While there we were sized up by a seal enjoying his resting spot on the rocks.

On rocks just near Cave Rock at Sumner Beach

Of course, then we had to eat again and had fish and chips before an unplanned adventure - looking to see if endangered White-Flippered Penguins were in the nesting boxes near Taylors Mistake.  On the way there, we made a mistake of our own and ended up on the Summit Road of the Port Hills so we decided to eat our lunch in the vans and take in the view of Lyttelton Harbour while the cold wind blew about outside.

Entertaining card tricks as we wait for lunch at the fish and chips store.

Lunch view to Lyttelton Harbor from the van

After working our way over to the right location at Taylors Mistake we hiked out on Godly Head Track to a predator fenced area (built in 2010) and down a long, steep ladder to the rocky coastline at the water's edge.  There to our amazement where two penguins in one of the nest boxes that had been constructed along a 200 meter stretch of the coastline to help facilitate both nesting and scientific observation/study.  Because this particular species of penguin only nests in this one spot and off a small island off the coast of this area, the Center for Biological Diversity (based in California) who petitioned to have several species of penguins listed as endangered because of global warming issues included the White-Flippered Penguin on the list.

Hiking on Godly Head Track.

Ladder down to nest boxes, and checking them for penguins.

White-Flippered Penguin in next box.

We stopped to visit with Dean Anderson and his wife, Susanne, after this rare opportunity with the penguins and enjoyed a cuppa tea and some NZ/Australian cookies (Tim Tams and Ginger Nuts) before heading for the uni.  After dinner, we took in the Christchurch Crusader's rugby match against the Dunedin Highlanders under an almost full moon.

Tea with Susanne and Dean.

Cheering on the Crusaders!

July 10th, 2014 - Cultural Artifacts, Caves, Cute Animals, Curvy Roads, Cold Wind

Kia Ora!  We are back from our first road trip - tired and happy from a few more "best day ever"s!

Leaving Chez La Mer Backpackers this morning in rainy conditions.

We left Akaroa this morning in wet, windy and cold conditions and headed over to Okains Bay through "high cloud" (that we actually drove through) to the site of the Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum where we had a chance to explore an extensive collection of exhibits showcasing Maori and early colonial NZ artifacts in a sleepy little town by the bay - we saw everything from a small Marae and a Waka to hand carved bone fishhooks.  

Learning about a Marae with Dr. Hostetler

After tea, we ate lunch down by the beach and explored a small cave and the beach.  The weather then had cleared enough so that we could take the small roads winding along the edge of the ocean between Okains Bay and Little Akaloa before joining back up with the Tourist Drive along the crater rim along the Banks Peninsula - all with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean on the one side, and the Akaroa Bay area on the other.  Along the way we were impressed by the very "hobbity" looking hills and beautiful sheep and cows.

Coming back from exploring a cave where we had our lunch

"Hobbity" landscape and Gatawaka in the background with wayward sheep blocking the road on the way to Little Akaloa.

We even braved a muddy trail to see a 2,000-year-old (the one in Hinewai was ONLY 600 years) Totara tree (measuring almost 28 feet around) before stopping in Little River for afternoon tea and to explore the art gallery and craft cooperative.

Hug a tree!

Next we stopped at Birdlings Flat to collect rocks (actually semi precious stones like agate and greenstone) to weigh down our suitcases.  The WIND at the ocean was so strong we could almost lay back on it, but it did not deter us.

Birdlings Flat - the entire shore is made up of these stones!

Fighting the wind to make it back to the Gatorwaka.

At the end of the day we stopped in a rock shop where Dr. H BOUGHT more rocks much to my amusement and then we headed home with a beautiful sunset in the sky.  LOTS of muddy laundry to do from our travels tomorrow - thank goodness lectures don't start until 10am.

 Sweet Dreams of colourful rocks, dry socks and the sweet cow singing to us on the way to Little Akaloa, Meryl ; )

July 2, 2014 - It was a cold and windy day...

Looking out over Lyttelton Harbor from Sugarloaf Reserve , Port Hills

Brrrrr - BUT we made it to the top of the hill over looking Christchurch and the Pacific Ocean

After getting a break to get settled into our digs and grab some lunch at the uni, we headed out to the Port Hills for a short hike and an overview of our surroundings.  It was sunny (which in itself is always a gift in NZ winter), but a COLD Southerly was blowing STRONG gusts off of Antarctica and as we got further up our hike on the hill, it was hard to stand up straight.  The view of Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbor, and the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Alps in the distance were all beautiful despite the cold and wind.

TIP TOP!

Connor's first flat white.

Next we headed to the small town of Tai Tapu (along the way we could see the black snow clouds moving up the east coast) for the warmth of The Store and to get Tip Top ice cream (mmmmmmm Hokey Pokey!).

Snow clouds

Finally, we did a little shopping for odds and ends that we needed in Rollerston before heading back to the uni for dinner.  Not bad for a first day in the land of the long white (or dark grey) cloud.

July 2nd, 2014 - They're Here!

Cold weather is moving in, but all arrived safely!  Off for adventures to keep everyone awake until dinner time. - Meryl