28 July 2007

Goodfellow Track

page 5

This one's a bit more tricky. I lower myself rather than step down, but after that it's fine.

To get here we have walked down a set of what look to be hand chopped steps in the hard stone.

Up the other side again. There's something about tramping where stating the obvious just reflects the onward placing of one foot after another. It's still grand walking. I feel an exhilaration along this track that I don't get on every track, and I'm enjoying myself immensely. A young nikau sits to the side of the track with extraordinarily long fronds.

Here's acouple of what I'm fairly certain are filmy ferns, but a fairly large species. There's a kind of glossy, almost slick, oily look to their wetness

Another fern.

Up we go. I'm not sure what's holding that big fellow up as it sprawls across the track.

Not all that common along here, a just starting New Zealand tree fuchsia. there are parts of the Scenic Drive not very far away at all where these are almost the principal roadside vegetation.

We continue upwards.

This is an example of track building policy that has occurred frequently along here. Where the old track took a slightly longer and less steep route, this team has preferred a direct route and steps on just about every occasion. You can see to the left where the old track used to be, making its way around to the top of the new steps.

More steps gain us altitude at a slightly faster clip.

and it is not long at all before we can see the Fairy Falls Track cutting across just ahead.

We turn left along here, down to the Falls and back up to the car. that's all on the Fairy Falls report; but here's one shot I can't resist including. It's an absolute must for any God-fearing tourist. From this spot you can see Rangitoto, the Harbour Bridge, and the Sky Tower, framed in native bush. Get your icons here folks.