Today we headed for Arthurs Pass as we had been told this was the best place to see a Kea, intelligent birds full of fun and mischief. They love car wipers, tyres, bags, rubber, in fact, anything left unattended is all fair came to them, so you can imagine why we were very excited to have a 'Kea encounter'.
The route inland was stunning. So much to see the camera was forever being switched on. Lots of road works too, one lot being set up as we arrived.
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| Waimakariri Gorge at the approach to Selwyn District. |
At almost the highest point of the Pass, we came to the village with plenty of touristy things to see and do. A unique small chapel stands alone and has the most marvellous view out from the front window, the Avalanche Creek Waterfall.
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| Avalanche Creek Falls, well we had to go find it. |
At the tourist information by the station (yes Arthurs Pass has a railway running through the village) we discovered a path to Devils Punchbowl Falls. About a 30 minute walk up some very long and steep steps which took me forever to get up to the viewing platform. Ordinary steps are fine but those that are stepped up every couple of feet and some needing a massive step to get up about killed me off. Even Ian was blowing hard but the end result was so worth it though.
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| Those bloody steps, killers! |
Weather is set to deteriorate. Rain is expected for the next 4 days, typical because we wanted to do the helicopter to the Franz Josef Glazier tomorrow. It was cancelled three years ago when we booked it and it looks like the same fate will happen to us again!
And wildlife
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| I think this Dragonfly remind you of a helicopter? |
6 comments:
Irene you are in the wrong place to see Kea's. You need to go over the summit to the western side. Below the summit there is a layby/lookout. We always saw Kea's in this location.
Tom
Told you so - in all the times I've driven over Arthur's Pass, I have never seen kea there. However you'll see the kea along the road to Milford Sound, so be patient, my lovelies!
And you'll be able to do the glacier trip next time. With luck, we'll still have a glacier for you to visit ...
Mxx
"We wanted to do the helicopter to the Franz Josef Glazier. It was cancelled."
Same thing happened to me when I was there in '96!
The Kea situation has obviously changed in that time - there were lots of them about when my coach stopped at what was probably the same spot as you did. And the driver had to pull over before reaching the summit - to pick up a bunch of VERY cold Japanese teenage hikers from a hut beside the road. As they were de-frosting themselves (none
seemed suitably dressed for the conditions), he got out and fitted snow chains! But that would have been during our summer, so winter in NZ...
Hello, I&I,
I DID tell you so about the kea at Arthur's Pass - see what happens when you don't listen to me? I have never seen any kea there in all the times I drove through - at multiple times of the day.
But fear not, when you SELF drive down to Milford Sound and stop at all brown signs to explore, you will see plenty of them. And they are also plentiful outside Homer Tunnel, on the Sound side, I understand where DOC has had to set up a playground jungle gym for them so they don't keep moving the road cones and confusing the drivers ...
You two are great explorers though - I will be getting David to create a list of things we are to do and places to explore as we follow in your footsteps ...
And remember, you too will be back (sooner rather than later hopefully) and anything you miss this time you will have on your list for your return visit.
Big hugs to you both, Mxxoo
To Tom and Marilyn, Yes yes we know you are both right but we lived in hopes that our luck would have changed. Tom, we have already left the area so Milford Sound it is then but we were sure two Kea's flew past us at Franz Josef. Oh and Marilyn you can only follow in our footsteps if you do the adventurous stuff as well!!! Go on, we dare you! Xxx
Thank goodness snow wasn't forecast for us, Dave. We had been told that the Kea is now endangered which would explain the lack of sightings.
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