Winter in New Zealand

Greetings faithful blog followers...it really must be frustrating trying to follow our blog since updates come sparsly and sporadically. Laura tried to blog about our few hiking trips, but lost the connection...and the unfinished blog, got frustrated and hasn't attempted since.

So here I am picking up the pieces. This post will be the first of a three part series about three of our weekend adventures during winter in the Waikato.

Trip #1- Wairere falls.

Laura and I were excited to get out of the shack for our first real tramping experience. We loaded up the car with lunch, fuel and directions to Wairere falls and the Matamata hots springs (you lord of the rings followers would know this as Hobbiton). Jorg and Jackie reccomended staying off the beaten track and instead following the twisty, windey Scottsman Valley Road. The views on the way were stunning, but the journey had Laura wishing for Dramamine.

When we arrived at the base of the trail, the sign said "4 hours to the summit". We were eager to get to it after the car ride. The trail first led us up a boulder strewn fan, that jutted out from the mountains. We were surrounded by large smooth boulders, some of them nearly perfect spheres. The treck got more and more difficult as we ascended to the first view point of the falls.

As we climbed, the trek got increasingly steep and difficult. Along the way I pointed out some of New Zealand's common flora. There were several different species of Ferns, including a few varieties of tree ferns. Also a few Nikau palm trees. Because the weather pattern in the area blows the warm moist air up the mountains, the area gets huge amounts of rain so it supports a temporate rain forest. The climate changes vastly just over the summit where the air draws the moisture like a wick. I think the term is rain shadow.

Anyhow, the trail turned from steep to steeper, till Laura and I were using our hands nearly as much as our feet. We arrived at the viewpoint with muscles twitching and sweat pouring off of us. A great opportunity to breath in the cool moist air and enjoy the fantastic view of the falls.

After a few failed attmpts at a timed camera shot to get us both in, we finally got one that was adequate. The break was just enough for us to forget how tough the journey up was, and it only took a little persuasion for me to convince Laura to do the hour side trip to the falls summit. We may regret it later, but we didn't come this far just to turn back.

The trail from the view point to the summit was every bit as difficult as the journey up...possibly more, with constant handholds and switchbacks. On the way up, we caught a few glimpses of the vast grasslands of the Waikato. It streatched out below us like a giant green carpet.

The pastures bordered by fenses and a lazy river flowing through. No wonder that this area is one of the best places in the world for Ryegrass.

The path wound up and around till we didn't know if we were going toward the summit, or across the range. Soon we spotted the river. The path followed it and when we could distinguish the roar of the falls ahead Laura pumped her arms in true Rocky style.

The view from the top was amazing. The Dept. of Conservation had built a platform that stretched nearly to the edge of the falls so that we could get a good view of the water plumeting over the cliff, disapearing in a dull roar somewhere below, well out of our sight.

We enjoyed the strong breeze, and it quickly cooled us off. The view from the top was cut short when the sky let loose with a few warning drops. Laura and I decided that it was time for our decent. We clamboured back down the mountain...at a rate that could be described more of a controlled fall than a decent.

Back at the car, we dove into our lunches. We were both over ready for it. The lunch Laura had packed really hit the spot, even if it was a mite too healthy for my taste.

We drove back to Matamata and quickly found the hot pools that Jorg and Jackie had reccomended to us. We quickly figured out why they were "rarely packed". The hot pools were quite run down and sketchy, but alas it was too late. We had come too far not to try a dip. Despite the terrible condition they were in, the water was relaxing. Rain drove us, once again, back to the car.

On the way out of town we snapped a photo for all you lord of the rings fans. As we drove home, it felt good to be back in the shire.