Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Monday 1 October 2012

Hills and Tarns and Falls


Last week Hugh went to the top of the Ruahine Range, this is a track that many quad and 4WD people use, it gets little maintenance at the far end, and minimal at the beginning.Not for the faint hearted at all. There had been a snowfall a  few days earlier , the highest part here is  1141 metres asl, not the highest in this range, there is a beaconed trig at 1735 metres.
Ruahine Range tarn
Snow on the leaves
Hugh was on his own, so did not venture  past the area in the second photo of the track.It is a very steep descent, and  one part where I would definitely stay on the ground or better still, at home!!!
Takapari Road trackWay past the A Frame
Yesterday we went to  Egmont National Park, where Mt Egmont is, ( Mt Taranaki), it is a cone shaped mountain, 2518 metres high. The snowline is at 1522 metres, as told to me by some trampers who had completed a 5 day circuit tramp around the  mountain, they had a GPS, so this was exact.!!! There are huts along the way, with a several hour tramp between.
We walked about 30 minutes to Dawson Falls, where the Kapuni Stream falls about 18  metres to the huge rocks below.The noise is loud, the spray splatters your face if you get too close, and the steps are steep.Today my leg muscles are aching!!!
Mt Egmont Sep 2012
Dawson Falls
Dawson Falls spray
All the above photos, courtesy of Hugh.
On the way down, there was a hollow under a huge tree, maybe shelter for the fairies on a cold day.Steps that were slippery, and stony places where the path was flat
A little hollowStony path down
Moss on the trees and rocks
Some steps
The misty effect make  these photos  seem like an old painting.
Sit on the branch
Misty water

Quotation of the day, author unknown
“ A strong man and a waterfall always channel their own path”
Greetings from Jean.

7 comments:

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Love Dawson Falls. Mind it's a good few years since I've been there! We have stayed at the lodge a couple of times.
Lovely place.
You sure bought back some memories.
Cheers

Linda

Nancy J said...

Hi Linda, those huge stones and rocks must be worn smooth by the rushing water , over many years , when it floods.The last time we were there was in the mid 1960's. Wow!!!I can only imagine it when the snow is right down to the car park. Cheers, Jean.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What wonderful photos. A majestic and peaceful place to visit.

FlowerLady

Brian King said...

Gorgeous country! Love the snow-covered mountain and that waterfall is beautiful!

Nancy J said...

Thanks for your words, somehow I did not manage to get better photos, it was too hard to take the tripod as well as camera down those steps, and Hugh had better balance on the big rocks.I am sure there will be another place next week .Yes Lorraine,your words are so true.And I would add " Magical".from Jean. Greetings

KB said...

What a beautiful mountain. It looks like a volcano that blew its top off!

Nancy J said...

KB, there is a legend attached to this mountain, I will do a post on it, soon.Lovely evening here, with daylight saving ,we have sun shining through the trees, blue skies, all at 7 p.m. and a warm day thrown in for good measure,love your autumn leaves. Greetings from Jean.