Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula
February 3,4 2018
After rescheduling this trip from the last program it was disappointing that just 4 of us set out to explore this reserve. More so because the range of walks are pretty easy and the accommodation at the Lodge quite luxurious leaving few excuses for not coming.
Four of us departed around 4.30pm on the Friday and after a dinner stop at Ashburton we arrived at Hinewai just on dark, just enough light for the brief walk down from the carpark, we were greeted by the sole occupier with a cup of relaxing tea before hitting the sack.
Rain set in during the night and continued into the following morning which did curtail our keenness to some extent. After breakfast we did venture out and explored some of the tracks leading to various features which are well identified with some quite humorous signage.
The reserve was still farmed until about 1987 but little evidence remains now and regeneration has been very successful with native vegetation having now taking dominance over the gorse that was prevalent earlier. Some original stands of native trees were there and still are, with some of the only tawhairaunui (red beech) to be found on the east coast of the South Island. Totara and kahikatea were the only other really big trees on the reserve, but other natives include mahoe, seven finger, five finger, tarata, putaputaweta(marble leaf), wineberry, karamu, kaikomako, mikimiki, popoporo, ongaonga,mapou and kanuka, are all well represented.
This vegetation supports an abundant bird life and many of these are native as well, including ruru (morepork), kahu (falcon), Pipipi( brown creeper), piwakawaka(fantail), ngirungiru(tomtit), pihoihoi(NZ pipit), kereru, korimako(bellbird) tauhou(silvereye), riroriro(grey warbler)and titipounamu(rifleman). The kotukutuku( tree fuscia) were well covered in fruit which is called konini and very nice tasting they are. Tui are in the reserve but we found none.
Our morning walk found us on the Purple Peak track eventually and when we found ourselves on the relatively clear area of the Brocheries the rain was quite unpleasant and we headed back to the lodge for some dryness and lunch.
It cleared up soon after lunch so other options were discussed and it was decided to drive down to Otanerito(Long Bay) and explore the lower parts of the reserve and for some to walk back up to the lodge while the vehicle was eventually to be driven back to the lodge by one of the party after she had gone as far as she wanted to….
So, 3 of us had a very pleasant up hill journey back to the lodge in sunshine with the birds singing and a pleasant creek burbling beside us for much of the way.
Were were enjoying a late afternoon tea when the remaining member stumbled in and on enquiry as to how it was it came to pass that our vehicle had not made it back due to a breakdown en route….bugger!!!, never good when it is the only vehicle you have.
Two of us set off to investigate and thought we’d fixed the problem after splicing the broken radiator overflow tube back together, but it was not to be and the repair only got us another 200m further up the road before coming to a grinding overheated stop. Further inspection discovered that the fan belt was broken, so that was where she stayed. Getting back to the lodge and the manager’s landline( no cell phone reception) it became clear that no immediate repair was possible and alternative travel arrangements were needed to get home.
Luckily for us a plan involving a members son based in the big smoke and another members wife who was willing to pick us up from Lincoln was able to be implemented . So after a big clean up of the lodge and a very short walk on the Sunday morning, we were picked up. The offending vehicle was abandoned to be dealt with by a local garage, including having it trailered back to Akaroa.
We headed back and after an early lunch in Lincoln and transferring our gear from one rescuers vehicle to the other, we squashed 5 up into the smallish beemer of the second rescuer and motored home.
We were very grateful to both our rescuers and the slight discomfort of a squashed up trip home was a very small price to pay. It just remains for the writer to pick up not just the vehicle but also the bill for towing and repairs for this trip to be concluded. All in all still a good trip and many thanks for those who came and for the patience shown in the journey home and to our rescuers.
Those who came were John, Marion, Karyl and Robbie
