The Heaphy track , guiding by accident!!
Loaded up for another day on the track with Co guide Jacob
Another of our guides - all smiles Richard at the Heaphy beach
The Heaphy track - guiding by default!!
The Heaphy track runs through some of the oldest terrain geologically in New Zealand and retains much of the the Flora and Fauna that was present (read birds and Native forest which we call Bush) from before breakup of the great continent Gondwanaland over 100 million years ago. A chance meeting with an old friend a couple of years back has led to a job with local company "Bush and Beyond" working as a walking guide on the Heaphy , at 80 kms considered the longest and most diverse of the "Great Walks" in New Zealand. Often , when thinking of guiding, one thinks of load carrying, cooking, health and safety and perhaps a little knowledge about the track and a few off track trips but primarily its a people orientated job and after a couple of trips its mainly the people who keep it interesting. As I have discovered theirs also a "walk bagging" fraternity who travel the World over doing famous walks!! After a busy last 6 weeks walking thru bush the mind craves the more serene alpine world which at this moment I just get glimpse's of now and again in the distance!!
A stunted flowering Rata Tree hugs the rocks seen during one of our side trips up Mount Perry,
A short run alone thru bush led to this opening revealing the vast Tasman wilderness area.
The Tasman sea at the Heaphy river mouth.
The Drunken sailor and the Dragons teeth. These are viewed from Perry saddle hut , about as close as one gets to mountains on the trip thru.
veiw from Mt Perry
Starting out from Collingwood , Golden Bay early in the morning
Whilst most of the huts are modern lodges , Gouland Downs hut remains a piece of history.
A million year old column
Ancient limetone has been water worn into numerous caves
Dense bush in the Enchanted Forest
The tussock covered Gouland Downs
The Gouland Downs looking back to the mountains.
Giant ferns
Ancient Forest
Giant Rata trees looming over the Heaphy river
Mount Inaccessible seen thru a cloud break from Mount Perry
Isabelle and Leo make freinds with a Gannet back in Motueka