Charming Creek

 Saturday 28th

.Anyone coming to South Island in the future, this is one for your 'must do' list.

We made for Mangatini falls along the Charming Creek railway walkway, about 10 kilometres north of Granity near Westport. The Charming Creek Railway used to run alongside Ngakawau River in the Lower Ngakawau Gorge, transporting coal from mines in the Ngakawau River catchment area. The disused bush tram track now forms a section of the Charming Creek Walkway. 3 km into the gorge, Mangatini Stream joins Ngakawau River over the 25m tall Mangatini Falls. With all the rain lately everywhere was sodden and we found ourselves traipsing through mud and dodging mini waterfalls cascading from the rocks above. A tunnel along the journey reminded us of Standage tunnel although considerably shorter of course.

very wet along this section

 We came upon some falls, okayish, but thought surely this can't be it.

 So we continued walking and for the second time in as many days, we found ourselves crossing a swinging bridge spanning the Ngakawau River. And then there it was...stupendously spectacular and immensely impressive.

We could have turned around at this point but with another tunnel right by the falls we just had to go through to see what was at the other end. Not a lot really, another smallish falls and unless you walked another 15 minutes or so the Mill, would come into view. We didn't bother, turned around and started the long walk back to the van.

Tomorrow's excitement is an 'underground day' and no not just caving,  soooo looking forward to that.