j15 Central Whirinaki Hut

River Road Carpark to Central Whirinaki Hut 4½ hours (one way)

The track meanders down the forested river terracesto Te Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi  Canyon. Here the river cuts through an ancient lava flow with spectacular results. The main track continues up the true right bank of the river, crossing Moerangi and Mangamate Streams. The next stop, Whirinaki Waterfall, is about 200 m off the main track to Central Whirinaki Hut. View the falls from the bridge. Retrace your steps to the Central Whirinaki Hut turn-off. A further 45 minutes from the turn-off is Vern’s Camp, the site of an old track cutters camp. From Vern’s Camp the track follows high above the river giving some birds-eye views. Kakanui Stream is the next convenient place for a stop. Central Whirinaki Hut stands in a large grassy clearing, with the river nearby. It is about 1½ hours from Kakanui Stream.
今天走Central Whirinaki Hut 沿途景觀一般 比較值得一看的是Te Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi  Canyon, Whirinaki Waterfall 和 這裏最珍貴的Whio (blue duck藍鴨)

Canyon只能微瞥 根本無法感受其雄偉 Whirinaki Waterfall也只能從橋上看並且也很一般 這裏最珍貴的是藍鴨 尋找半天 甚至在溪邊lunch 也沒看到蹤影 還好保育人員帶我看藍鴨 兩位還下水花了20分鍾才找到 真是非常感謝

track entrance

tree ferns at the beginning

Te Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi  Canyon

track scenes

Whirinaki Waterfall

Vern’s Camp

several landslides

Kakanui Stream

走過Kakanui Stream一段路程  碰到兩位山友 告知前面有嚴重滑坡 很危險 建議不要通過 James當機回轉

James having lunch at the stream side

這裏最珍貴的是藍鴨 尋找半天 甚至在溪邊lunch 也沒看到蹤影

兩位保育人員幫忙找藍鴨Whio (blue duck)

看到藍鴨了 

藍鴨的蹄大 可在湍流中前進 

看到的是幼鴨 因此沒有鮮豔的羽毛

保育人員告知這條河流已經增加到80對藍鴨 有藍鴨表示這條河川很健康

good rest spot

elegant cascade

H-tree Track loop track

This is an easy walk through grand podocarp forest. featuring an unusually shaped rimu tree. The forest here is home to a large population of native birds including kaka and robin. 

這是一條很知性的優美步道 有大片的ferm tree 許多解說牌 和植物說明牌 只要45分鐘就走完一個loop

有趣的樹 解說在下一張

許多解說牌

有許多植物說明牌

Forest Sanctuary  loop track

Start across the walk bridge from the carpark. The sanctuary protects a striking remnant of podocarp forest. 

以鳥為主的步道 但必需晚上造訪才能感受到這裡的主角 沿路都有反光板以利晚上行走

反光板以利晚上行走

Okataina Rata
上帝用大自然創作出的大教堂 當然要造訪

今天再走Okataina Rata   上次沒用GPS miss  大教堂  這次補上 時間有限 直上直下