2009. Southshore Spit, Christchurch

2009. Kibblewhite Reserve low tide, westwards view of Avon Estuary, Bexley Wetland & Southern Alps

I parked my car at the end of Kibblewhite Street with splendid views westwards over Avon Estuary to snowy Southern Alps, as I wanted to walk Avon-Heathcote Estuary shore to the end of Southshore Spit and return along Southshore Beach, Pegasus Bay side of Southshore Spit.


2009. Bridge Reserve eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch

In Kibblewhite Reserve I walked south-eastwards through pines and macrocarpas, and crossed Bridge Street near South Brighton Bridge to Bridge Reserve, where someone had pruned macrocarpas and left heaps of whippy branches trackside.

I selected a dry branch and finessed it into a walking stick, my first walking stick in all my Christchurch river walks and Port Hills walks.


2009. Bridge Reserve low tide, eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch

Below more pines and macrocarpas I walked a gravel track beside Avon Estuary, which widened into Avon-Heathcote Estuary on my right, with distant views of Port Hills across Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

Along the meandering track I passed South New Brighton School hidden by trees on my left, then I passed South Brighton Bowling Club with views across Avon-Heathcote Estuary of Bromley Oxidation Ponds, a sewage farm; Pleasant Point Yacht Club; South Brighton Bridge and snowy Alps.


2009. South New Brighton Park low tide, westwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch


2009. South New Brighton Park low tide, eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. South New Brighton Park low tide, westwards view of Wooden Pier, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch. Pleasant Point Yacht Club & South Brighton Bridge right

Further on in South New Brighton Park, a wooden pier pointed across Avon-Heathcote Estuary to Christchurch CBD and the Port Hills. By the pier and powerboat ramp I coolpixed a sign stating:

AVON-HEATHCOTE ESTUARY / IHUTAI
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE BOATING...

On the estuary bank another sign warned: 5 KNOTS FOR ALL POWERED CRAFT.


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Safe Boating Sign, South New Brighton Park, Christchurch

Early afternoon low tide, I walked along the gravel track and watched a pretty blonde on a mudflat throwing sticks for her dog. Further on, she jogged past while I coolpixed a red, black, white sign stating:

HEALTH WARNING
TREATED SEWAGE AND STORMWATER
ARE DISCHARGED INTO THIS ESTUARY...


2009. Sewage Health Warning Sign, South New Brighton Park, Christchurch

Despite pine trees overhead, I felt I was sludging through a giant toilet, thanks to the excremental vision of city councillors and engineers. Three furtive teenage girls passed. I wondered if they were bunking school?

(During & after 2010-2011 quakes, Heathcote River, Avon River & Avon-Heathcote Estuary were used as open sewers, as Bromley oxidation works was clogged with liquefaction mud & Christchurch sewage pipes were damaged with cracks & liquefaction mud. For months afterwards, sewage sucker trucks drove around Christchurch, clearing broken, clogged sewage pipes).


2009. South New Brighton Park low tide, eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Boardwalk, South New Brighton Park: Salt Marsh left, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats right, Christchurch

Beyond pines the track entered a salt marsh full of sea rushes, Juncus maritimus. I walked a boardwalk with sea rushes and houses on my left and low tide estuary mudflats and distant Moncks Bay, Clifton Hill, Redcliffs and Mount Pleasant in the Port Hills on my right. On the shoreline I read a flora / fauna info board:

"INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS

19 species of birds on the estuary are international migrants from the Arctic. The most common is the Eastern Bartailed Godwit. Others include the Asiatic Dowitcher, American and Asiatic Whimbrels, Alaskan and Siberian Tattlers and the Lesser Knot. Arctic migrants spend a third of their lives in New Zealand, a third in distant parts of the world and a third flying between the two. For the Godwit this may involve an annual round trip of 26 000 kilometres!


2009. Guide to Birdwatching, South New Brighton Park Sign, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary is at the southern end of a migration route called the Eastern Asian Flyway. Numbers of birds reaching the estuary are influenced by conditions along the Flyway.

Over 2000 Godwits reach the estuary each year. The first arrive in the third week of September and numbers peak in November. The birds remain at the estuary until March and April when they again leave for the Arctic. Before migrating north they become restless, often circling the estuary in excited flocks performing massed aerobatics that are very impressive to watch..." (CCC)


2009 Bird International Migrants Sign, South New Brighton Park, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary info board warned against frightening estuary birds, and described the estuary food web including plants, more birds, fish, molluscs and crustaceans like: whitebait (inanga); kahawai; yellow-eyed mullet, cockabully; sole; flounder; whelks; limpets; barnacles; crabs.


2009. Flora / Fauna Sign, South New Brighton Park, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

The info board SINGLE CELLED PLANTS section stated:

"In the sunlit 1-2cm of the sediments are microscopic single-celled plants called algae. In the sheltered wet food-rich estuary these can grow extremely quickly. When nutrients are plentiful they 'bloom' colouring the surface of the mud. Euglena has a yellowish green bloom and diatom blooms are golden brown or chocolate brown..." (CCC)


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats, eastwards Port Hills view, Christchurch


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats, westwards view to South New Brighton Park, Christchurch

Southshore Spit narrowed at the end of Ebbtide Street, where the estuary gravel track petered out by houses lining Avon-Heathcote Estuary. As it was low tide I walked in front of houses on a long stretch of Avon-Heathcote Estuary mudflats. Houses had concrete blocks and rubble protecting gardens and boat ramps from water erosion. Some houses had small boats on the shore.

(The 2010-2011 quakes would destroy many of those Southshore houses lining Avon-Heathcote Estuary. The area would be red zoned & the houses demolished).


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats view of Mount Pleasant & some Port Hills Peaks, Christchurch


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats eastwards view of Mount Pleasant & Redcliffs, Christchurch


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Boat, westwards view of Mudflats, Christchurch


2009. Mudflat Snails, Amphibola crenata, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

I walked by millions of mudflat snails, Amphibola crenata, and watched ducks, gulls and south island pied oystercatchers foraging in the mud. Along the way I passed several Southshore cul de sacs. Each street had stormwater drainpipes flushing into the estuary.

As I was walking on golden brown slime on the mudflats, I hoped it was diatom bloom and not Bromley oxidation ponds discharge.


2009. Low Tide Boats, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mudflats, with Mount Pleasant view, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Cul de Sac Stormwater Drain from Southshore Spit into Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

Near the end of the mudflats, as my hearing-aid was switched off I didn't hear or see a big brown bitch bounding up to me. Looking up I saw the bitch in mid leap.

I poked the bitch's chest with my walking stick, stopping the bitch in mid-flight, yelling, "NO DOG! THAT'S BAD!" The latter for Lemon-Lips Lady letting her bitch attack me.

Further on I saw a DOG BYLAW AREAS sign which expected dogs to be controlled in the BIRD ROOSTING AREA. The bylaw expected dogs to be leashed on Spit Reserve paths, but let dogs run in a corridor below dunes and close inshore. Dogs were prohibited on large mudflat areas.


2009. Dog Bylaw Areas Sign, Southshore Spit, Christchurch

At the Spit Reserve entrance a BIRD ROOSTING AREA sign stated:

"Please keep your dog on a leash past this point.

This area is nationally and internationally important as a feeding and resting area for migrating birds. The bartailed godwit lives here between September and April before migrating to Siberia and Alaska during winter to breed.

These birds need to rest

Every time they are forced to fly they burn up valuable fat. They need this fat to power their long-distance migration otherwise they may die from exhaustion along the way.

Please
* keep your dog on a leash
* give the birds a wide berth
* walk close to the base of the dunes." (CCC)


2009. Bird Roosting Area Sign, Southshore Spit, Christchurch

Nearby a wooden sign stated:

ACCESS TO ESTUARY EDGE
TO ROCKINGHORSE RD. ONLY AT LOW TIDE

HIGH TIDE TRACK TO
ROCKINGHORSE RD. END ->


2009. Rockinghorse Road Sign, Southshore Spit, Christchurch


2009. Southshore Loop Track, Southshore Spit, with Mount Pleasant backdrop, Christchurch

Further on by a SOUTHSHORE SPIT LOOP TRACK sign, I left the mudflats and walked a sandy dune track around the end of Southshore Spit. On the estuary side, a plaque on a wooden bench stated:

"Rest and reflect on the beauty of the estuary and our enduring debt to RICHARD KEITH WRIGHT..."


2009. Bench Plaque, RK Wright, Southshore Spit, Christchurch


2009. Southshore Spit westwards view over Avon-Heathcote Estuary to Southern Alps


2009. Southshore Spit westwards view over Avon-Heathcote Estuary to Redcliffs, Christchurch


2009. Wooden Footbridges near end of Southshore Spit. Clifton & Scarborough backdrop, Christchurch

I crossed three wooden footbridges over a bit of glasswort and searush saltmarsh, and saw that a recent fire had thinned out vegetation. I wondered how many bartailed godwits had valuable fat burned up in the fire? At the end of Southshore Spit by a swing under a pine tree, I crossed a dune to coolpix Avon-Heathcote Estuary mouth high tide waters flooding in. I snapped Shag Rock across the mouth with Clifton Sea Cliff backdrop. In the distance I saw Scarborough and Banks Peninsula pointing into the Pacific.


2009. End of Southshore Spit westwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Redcliffs, Christchurch


2009. End of Southshore Spit view of Moncks Bay, Avon-Heathcote Estuary (July)


2009. Purple Groundsel, Senecio elegans, end of Southshore Spit (September)


2009. End of Southshore Spit southern view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Shag Rock, Clifton Sea Cliff & Scarborough (July)


2009. End of Southshore Spit southern view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Shag Rock, Clifton Sea Cliff & Scarborough (September)


2009. End of Southshore Spit southern view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth & Clifton Sea Cliff, Christchurch

On Pegasus Bay side of Southshore Spit, I found another wooden bench amongst dunes. A memorial plaque stated the good works of TRICIA URCH preserving Southshore dunes and reserves.


2009. Bench Plaque, Tricia Urch, Southshore Spit, Christchurch


2009. Southshore Spit southern view of Sumner Beach, Cave Rock & Scarborough, Christchurch

Along Southshore Beach I walked back to my car, while high tide waves rolled up to the high tide mark. I passed Lemon-Lips Lady again while her bitch stood stock-still, staring at me, while Lemon-Lips Lady made no eye contact.

Near the end of Southshore Spit, several dogwalkers walked their dogs. A pesky Huntaway tried gnawing my walking stick, so I threw driftwood sticks for it to fetch. Huntaway Lady first smiled, then yelled at her dog, then glared at me for throwing sticks for her dog.


2009. Southshore Beach, Tern Street Walkway through Southshore Spit Dunes, Christchurch

On my way back along the beach in Southshore Beach Park, I passed another Dog Bylaw Areas sign and another Bird Roosting Area sign, and by Tern Street walkway through dunes I passed another Dog Bylaw Areas sign and another red, black, white Health Warning sign about treated sewage and stormwater discharge into nearby Avon-Heathcote Estuary.


2009. Southshore Beach Park south-eastwards view of Scarborough, Godley Head & Banks Peninsula


2009. Dead Shag, Southshore Beach, Southshore Spit, Christchurch

I passed driftwood, kelp, shells, dead crabs, a dead shag, a dead barracouta (?) with sharp teeth, washed up by the Pacific. I passed several walkways through spit dunes with chain-linked wooden boards over dunes.


2009. H Toopi's RIP Wooden Cross, Southshore Beach, Southshore Spit, Christchurch

Below spit dunes I passed another Health Warning sign, and Harley Toopi's white wooden cross: RIP, which overlooked Pegasus Bay. After walking Southshore Beach for an hour with New Brighton Pier getting closer, I crossed a dune to Jellico Street, and walked past houses to South New Brighton Park again.

I walked on pine needles in the pine forest, and looked at cables attached high in pines for adventure play. As high tide had filled Avon-Heathcote Estuary again, I coolpixed high tide waters where I'd seen mudflats three hours before.


2009. South New Brighton Park high tide, south-eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. South New Brighton Park high tide, westwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

By macrocarpa prunings again, as my walking stick was worn in and had proved its point against an aggressive bitch, I searched for two more sticks for Leah and Luke. While I rummaged, blokes on bikes and joggers passed.

Southshore Spit walk took me 4 hours.


2009. Bridge Reserve high tide, south-eastwards view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Kibblewhite Reserve high tide view of Avon Estuary, Bexley Wetland & Southern Alps

Coda: During the 2010-2011 earthquakes, greater Christchurch, incl Bexley, Southshore Spit, Mt Pleasant, Clifton, Sumner, Scarborough... were extensively quake damaged.

During aftershocks 2012, as estuarine wetlands were quake sunk & trees quake damaged, pine & macrocarpa trees in South New Brighton Reserves were felled, from South New Brighton School to Kibblewhite St & replaced with pines & indigenous trees. (CCC Info Leaflet, 27 April 2012).

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont

2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Castle Hill, Southern Alps

One perfect winter's day, cirrus cloudy and windless, I drove westwards from Yaldhurst Road, Christchurch, along the Great Alpine Highway 73, as we wanted to see Castle Hill Reserve in the Southern Alps, about 100 kms from our Burnside home. Early on the Canterbury Plains, a digital road sign flickered:

PORTERS PASS OPEN
CHAINS NEEDED
NO TOWING

I thought, "Bugger that!" as we'd hired chains before to climb Porter Heights ski resort road, but didn't need chains. We passed through Canterbury Plains towns Darfield and Sheffield, with grand views of snowy Southern Alps against blue skies.


2009. Springfield on Great Alpine Highway 73, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps Torlesse Range, NZ

We stopped at Springfield for petrol and coolpix, and looked at the war memorial and aluminium plane table indicating distances to Alpine peaks and cities like Christchurch, Wellington, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Perth, London... We passed Rewi Alley Reserve, as we'd stopped there several times before.


2009. Bottom of Porters Pass westwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Bottom of Porters Pass northwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Bottom of Porters Pass eastwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ

By a hut at the bottom of Porters Pass, road workers stopped us, as they were only allowing batches of cars up Porters Pass, giving leeway for slippery compacted ice on Porters Pass. We waited for about 15 minutes, with a line of cars behind us, while cars came down Porters Pass. While waiting, Leah talked to a family of Dutch immigrants.


2009. Porters Pass northern view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Top of Porters Pass eastwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Grader on top of Porters Pass eastwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Grader on top of Porters Pass westwards view, Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ

Sunny midday, our Toyota Corolla easily climbed the slippery ice and grit on Porters Pass (942m). We stopped on top to coolpix spectacular snowy views. I was interested in road graders parked on top, reminding me of De Beers excavators I'd written job descriptions for in the 1980s.


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Car view of frozen Lake Lyndon near Porters Pass, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Car view of Moraine & Torlesse Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Car view of Torlesse Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Car view of Moraine & Torlesse Range near Castle Hill, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73: Car view of frozen paddocks & Torlesse Range near Castle Hill, Southern Alps, NZ

Snow lay thick in the Alps down to the great Alpine Highway, but graders had heaped blackened sludge beside the road, making the highway passable. We passed icy Lake Lyndon where we'd skated before. Snowy Craigieburn Range was on our left with snowy Torlesse Range on our right, with the Great Alpine Highway going through a great basin between the snowy ranges.

We passed icy creeks and ancient moraines. Sheep and black cattle in snowy paddocks grazed fodder left on icy ground by farmers. Otherwise paddocks were snow white as far as the eye could see. Several farm gate signs stated:

CASTLE HILL STATION
IS A WORKING FARM
NO ACCESS


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73 view of Castle Hill Station & Torlesse Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73 view of sheep in frozen paddock, Castle Hill Station, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73 eastwards view towards Porters Pass: Lunch by Castle Hill Reserve entrance, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Great Alpine Highway 73 westwards view, near Castle Hill Reserve entrance, on the way to Arthurs Pass, Southern Alps, NZ

At Castle Hill Reserve entrance, we lunched beside the Great Alpine Highway, with trucks thundering past and great views of nearby Mount Torlesse and Castle Hill which loomed above us over karst landscape. Sunlight sparkled on snow like billions of diamonds.


2009. Castle Hill Station / Reserve westwards view of Craigieburn Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. DOC Carpark by Great Alpine Highway 73: Castle Hill Reserve, Craigieburn Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. DOC Carpark by Great Alpine Highway 73: Craigieburn Range backdrop to Castle Hill Reserve Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. DOC Great Alpine Highway 73 Info Map, Castle Hill Reserve Carpark, Southern Alps, NZ

At Castle Hill Reserve carpark, we read the Department of Conservation info board, which mapped sights along the Great Alpine Highway, including Castle Hill, from Christchurch in the east to Greymouth and Hokitika in the west, beyond Southern Alps.

The DOC board stated stuff in Maori, as Castle Hill / Kura Tawhiti was a Maori sacred place. DOC rules, aka "Code of Conduct," were inevitably stated too:

"Welcome to Kura Tawhiti a special place with many historic and cultural values. It is ideal for exploring, picknicking, bouldering and rock climbing.

Visitors here to enjoy this intriguing landscape are asked to help protect these values by following the code of conduct.

Enjoy your visit."


2009. DOC Info Board, Castle Hill Reserve Carpark, Southern Alps, NZ

"Code of conduct.

Please stay on the track and within the reserve...

Please use the toilet facilities provided

Refrain from digging holes and disturbing the surface of the ground...

Avoid trampling on endangered plants...

Respect fenced areas...

Take ALL rubbish away with you.

Please do not mark the surface of rocks...

Consider others in the area.

Rock climbers please read and comply with the climbers' code of conduct and respect the value of the rock art to Ngai Tahu." (DOC)


2009. Castle Hill Reserve Path to Limestone Outcrops in Karst Landscape. Craigieburn Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve path northwards view of Castle Hill Station & Craigieburn Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve southwards view of Limestone Outcrops, Kart Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Station northwards view of Craigieburn Range, Southern Alps, NZ

Along the sunny path to Castle Hill karst rocks, we passed a woman in the snow reading a book by a pine tree. We had Castle Hill rocks to ourselves, except for the noisy Dutch family: fat yelling wife, fat sister, tall, handsome muscley men, noisy blonde kids. They reminded us of holiday Vaalies in Durban. Along the path another DOC sign stated:

"Sculpture in stone - art or nature?

These spectacular rocks are natural outcrops of soft limestone, not the ruins of some ancient city. Their sculptured forms have attracted the attention of travellers past and present. This scenic limestone landscape supports a variety of significant natural and cultural values."


2009. DOC Castle Hill Reserve "Sculpture in Stone" Info Board, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

"A natural treasure house.

This limestone landscape contains classic examples of geological structures formed during the most recent mountain-building period. Beds of fossils are also present.

The rock outcrops are the home of several endemic plants, some of which are discovered only recently."


2009. Castle Hill Reserve northwards Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve westwards Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve southwards Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

"On the Maori trails.

Rock shelters amongst the limestone outcrops were used by early Maori. They were travellers on a network of trails that gave access to rich food and fibre reserves in the Waimakariri basin.

Some shelters contain rock art drawn by these first occupants.

The traditions of knowledge associated with this landscape are still held and valued by present-day Maori. Kura Tawhiti now has topuni status, symbolising a chiefly cloak of protection. This recognises the area's significance to the early Maori and the role of their Ngai Tahu descendents in the continuing protection of cultural values.

This topuni (dog skin cloak) and the remains of the backpack shown in the drawing... can be seen in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch." (DOC)


2009. Castle Hill Reserve south-eastwards Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve southern Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape & Craigieburn Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. DOC Castle Hill Reserve Signs by Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

We'd visited Castle Rock several times over the years, and had never seen Maori there.

I was skeptical of precious "cultural values," as SA had espoused Afrikaner cultural values during apartheid and black cultural values after apartheid. And where did that get us?


2009. DOC Sign "Natures Sculpture," Castle Hill Reserve, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

Below Castle Hill rocks were more DOC signs. One stated:

"Nature's Sculpture.

Limestone rock erodes into the sculptured landforms you see around you. This is called karst landscape."


2009. Tobogganing past DOC signs, Castle Hill Reserve, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Tobogganing, Castle Hill Reserve, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

"What is limestone?

Limestone is formed from layers of organic sediment deposited in oceans far from land. The resulting rock can eventually end up hundreds of metres above sea level during periods of mountain-building.

The calcium-rich remains of tiny marine animals build up into layers on the ocean floor. These layers are compressed into soft rock."


2009. Castle Hill Reserve view of Torlesse Range, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve eastwards Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Southern Alps, NZ

"How are the sculptures created?

Limestone is soluble. The acids present in rainwater work on joints in the soft rock, gradually enlarging them. Small differences in rock structure and solubility cause a wide range of fluting, pits and grooves. These sculptured landforms are the result."


2009. Castle Hill Reserve Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape & Craigieburn Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ


2009. Castle Hill Reserve Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape north-westwards view, Southern Alps, NZ

"Why is limestone fragile?

Limestone is shedding its skin. The exposed surface layer gradually flakes off as the soft rock expands and contracts with changing temperature. This process makes limestone vulnerable to change."


2009. Castle Hill Reserve Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape westwards view. Craigieburn Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ

"Climbers' code of ethics.

Use of bolts is an intrusion in a nature reserve. The metal accelerates rock weathering and alters the environment for plants. Fixing new bolts or replacing existing ones requires special permission from the Department of Conservation.

Brushing or preparing of rock surfaces damages the habitat of small plants such as lichens. Please do not use these techniques.

Cleaning or gardening clefts or depressions destroys important refuges for plants and animals no longer found elsewhere. Please do not use these techniques."


2009. Limestone Outcrops, Karst Landscape, Castle Hill Reserve, Torlesse Range backdrop, Southern Alps, NZ. Straight line in mid-ground is the Great Alpine Highway 73

"Concentrations of people disturbs fragile habitats and the plants growing at the base of rocks. Please do not gather in these places.

Remove all equipment at the end of your day.

Climbing in a conservation area is a privilege not a right. Please observe these requirements." (DOC)


2009. Castle Hill Reserve eastwards view of Torlesse Range, Southern Alps, NZ

After tobogganing below giant rocks on Castle Hill slopes, back at the DOC carpark, Leah was unimpressed by the carpark portaloo, chock-a-block with frozen crap.


2009. Entrance to DOC Castle Hill Reserve from Great Alpine Highway 73, Southern Alps, NZ

We left about 4pm as ice would still be on Porters Pass, and I didn't want to drive Canterbury Plains in icy darkness. Going past Porter Heights ski resort gate, we saw cars leaving the ski field too. On our way down Porters Pass, gritted ice was still thick at the bottom hairpin bend.

Before reaching Canterbury Plains, we followed a flashing-light Caterpillar grader at 50 kms / hour. I was impressed by strong chains on the back of the grader, useful for towing snowbound vehicles.


2009. Caterpillar Grader on Great Alpine Highway 73, bottom of Porters Pass, Southern Alps, NZ

It took about ten minutes' driving through snowy sheep paddocks before we left Alpine shadow behind. At Darfield we stopped at Luke's favourite Great Alpine Highway tearoom to buy a scoop of chips to scoff.

Only low cloud we saw that afternoon was a long white cloud over distant Port Hills, while the sun set behind Southern Alps, and Port Hills glowed salmon pink.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.