Donnelly Flat Loop Track

Mt Holdsworth

page 3

We press on . The Loop Track is very gentle walking.

Mist is a feature of the Tararuas. When you encounter it on the tops on trails that are difficult to see at times, it can be deadly.

The track is beginning to open a little to the sky. Beside us a Libertia shines its intense white against a dark background. This is another one you'll see a lot of in nurseries. Beside it is a species of Hebe.

Out into a clearing now.

It's a bit clammy, still.

We're over beside the river again. One of the DOC publications referring to the Atiwhakatu Track that runs beside it further up, mentions that many trampers in hot, hot, weather, prefer to walk and wade down the river bed instead of coming via the official track.

Back into the bush again, featuring a lush growth of hangehange.

Earlier we saw a tarata in berry. Here's a flower.

Just along the way is a large stockpile of gravel and a coarse pumice sort of substance.

This is the old beginning of the Atiwhakatu Track. the next section along the very edge of the river and about 5-10 metres up has been subject to too much erosion and DOC in November were in the process of constructing a track higher up on more stable ground. We head around to the left.

We heade on through a large dell of crown fern.

Off to the right, the new Atiwhakatu Track is being constructed. In my report on that track, I'll show some comparison pics of the partly built and the newly completed tracks.

We head off to the left up a short rise.

We're now on the homeward leg.

It's a pleasant track. Faint praise.... But it is.

Downhill for a bit.

Several short patches of boardwalk take us across a small piece of wetland, in February, firm underfoot. To the right, another fallen tree that has been sawn through for us walkers to make our way past. Count your blessings.

The combination of wet and cold can produce this lichen encrusted forest that I came to hate so much along the cliff-tops at Waikaremoana.

We're back onto the Gentle Annie track for a brief while.

Soon we're back at the first turnoff, and it's about fifteen minutes back to the van.

Here's a small horopito, the New Zealand chilli plant, though it's no relation. Very cautiously, bite a piece of leaf and rub your tongue over your front teeth. It has it's own peculiar kind of heat. You can use it, as you can use kawakawa, to add heat and flavour to a stew or curry. This one has a small red berry which is just visible.

and here we are. There is still enough battery left to keep the beer cold in the fridge and I have one with my lunch.