The story of Mt Dick Lookout

There’s no doubt that local knowledge is worth it’s weight in gold.  Helen (fellow quilter and blog reader) popped into the camp to say hello and told us about her trip up to the Mt Dick lookout recently.  Mt Dick?  Never been there, in fact we had never heard of it.  But a 4WD trip up an unsealed mountain road sounded like a great idea to Robin.  Five of us climbed aboard the Toyota, and  the adventure begun.  Mt Dick is part of the Tararua Forest Park, and Helen had advised us to look for the rather overgrown sign for the turnoff. 

Sign to the Lookout

The one lane track snaked it’s way up the mountain side and we hoped that we would not meet another vehicle coming down.  The surface got rougher as we continued to climb, and the car shook and shuddered as we slowly drove around the tight turns.  Once up the top we parked the car and made the short climb up to the lookout. 

Car park at Mt Dick Lookout

As promised, the views from the top were marvellous with 360 degree views.  A patchwork green of paddocks lay before us, and in the distance were the towns of Wairarapa,  Masterton, Carterton, Greytown and Featherston, with Martinborough away in the distance.

 

A stainless steel directional guide pointed the way to prominent landmarks.  We could see Lake Wairapapa off in the distance

To check what we can see

Lake Wairarapa in the distance at right

The tree covered hills looked like they were dusted with snow, but it was the white flowering manuka bushes from which the famous Manuka honey is gathered.

White dusted hills

Some areas of the hills are planted in pine forests, and logging was well underway.  Logging tracks snaked up and down the adjacent hills to allow access. 

Logging the pine plantation

This mountain was named after Richard “Dickey” Sayers, who moved from Wellington with his family to the Wairarapa in 1859.  He lived in a slab house he built in 1860 from trees he felled and made a subsistence living as a pig hunter in the Taraura Ranges.  His marriage to Hester Blake in 1864 produced a family of six children.  Sadly he was killed by his prize bull in 1902, while walking the animal home after attending an A & P Show.  He was gored in the armpit and bled to death in 30 minutes, and is buried in Clareville Cemetery.  The lookout was built by the Lions Club of Carterton with assistance from the Keep Carterton Beautiful Committee and the Department of Conservation.

Mount Dick Lookout shelter

Robin, Don, Derek, Dot and Jenny

On the trip down we spotted a rata tree glowing red against a sea of green in the bush covered hills.  A group of keen off road motor-cyclists were all set to make the steep accent up to the lookout.

Rata tree

Thanks to Helen for letting us know about this well kept Carterton secret, it was a trip worth taking to see such magnificent views.

Middleton Model Railway

It was a boys only afternoon out as three of use took a trip to the Middleton Model Railway.  The layout contains over 300m of track, 250 points, 10 stations, a marshalling yard, harbour and train ferry, ironstone mine and a chalk quarry.  Colin Fraser-Davies had his much loved model railway shipped out in 1983 when he emigrated to New Zealand from UK, there was no way he was leaving that behind. You can find more information here.

Colin with his Layout

The layout is model on the English 00 standard and is very extensive and would be every little boys’ dream to own.  This however is strictly an adults only passion.

A View of one of the complicated control panels

On a monthly basis fellow enthusiasts form a group and run the layout to an authentic operating timetable using a speeded-up clock. Sadly the day we visited was not one of their operating days.

A Triangular Station – Removes the need for a turntable

Also at this facility is Cwmglyn Cheese which specialises in making cheese from pedigree Jersey Cows. The milk from each cow being kept separate from which are made a variety of hard cheeses and butter. Tastings as well as purchases are available on site. A couple of use made a small purchase of cheese to bring home. A chance to earn some brownie points!

If you are passing through the Wairarapa a stop at this attraction which is only a couple of kilometres off the main road just south of Ekatahuna.

More to see at Mt Bruce

Although the white kiwi chicks were a real draw card,  there is a whole lot more to see at Pukaha Mt Bruce.  Tuatara are ancient reptiles and are often referred to as “living fossils” as they were around in the days of the dinosaurs.  Although tuatara once covered mainland New Zealand they are now only found on predator free islands, zoos or wildlife centres such as Mt Bruce.  

Tuatara

Kaka are endangered large forest parrots and there is are currently over 100 wild kaka flying free in the surrounding forest.  The birds fly in for the 3pm “Kaka Circus” where they receive supplementary feed and although there was still and hour or so to go, were starting to gather in the trees as we walked around the tracks. They delighted in “buzzing” us as they swooped low over our heads as they followed us around, and then posed quite happily  for the photo-shoot

Kaka waiting for treats

Kakariki are noisy little green parrots and there are several species.  This orange fronted Kakariki was well camouflaged as he was hiding in the trees and sadly the population of  this species has now reached the critical stage.  

Orange fronted Kakariki

The comfortable new movie theatre has several short films which run continuously throughout the day. These films tell the stories of the important relationship between forest restoration, pest eradication and captive breeding.  We saw how teams of people worked together to move 30 wild kiwi from Little Barrier Island and transport them safely 600km to Pukaha Mt Bruce.  RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air force) donated the services of a helicopter and a Hercules plane to carry the precious cargo back to Masterton. From Masterton the Kiwi were transported by road to Pukaha Mt Bruce.

   This way to the movies

Our men folk went to watch the eels (NZ Long Fin Eels) and some rather fat looking Rainbow Trout (that would have looked good on a plate) being fed.   We girls consider eels to be ugly slimy things and were not interested so wandered back to the cafe for a snack, coffee and a sit down to rest our weary legs.  There is certainly plenty to see at this facility.

Pukaha Mt Bruce

Rare white balls of fluff

These beautiful babies have caused a big stir at the National Wildlife Centre, Pukaha Mount Bruce, north of Masterton.  The first white kiwi chick was hatched in May 2011, to be followed by a second one just a few weeks ago.  It is very rare for a white kiwi to hatch in captivity, and these chicks are even rarer as they are not albinos, but white, with  both parents carrying the white feather gene.  We joined the crowds watching as the younger chick was carried from it’s enclosure, carefully weighed, then fed.  What a beautiful ball of fluff it was, and the cameras were clicking (flashes off so not to startle the baby) as the crowds caught the first glimpse of the chick through the nursery windows. 

How cute is this

As only 10% of baby kiwis reach maturity in the wild, the National Wildlife Centre removes the eggs from nests at Pukaha Mt Bruce and places them in incubators.  TV monitors show show the progress on the incubation of the eggs in nursery.  The chicks take a staggering five days to release themselves from the shell. 

TV monitor showing incubator in the nursery

The rangers mix up a special diet of ground ox heart, banana, oatmeal and vegetables.  Quantities are carefully measured and adjusted as they rangers monitor the progress of each kiwi.  The youngsters love their special treats of fat juicy worms, grubs and bush berries.  As they prepare to be released into the surrounding forest the chicks are placed in an outdoor enclosure where they are able to forage naturally.  After all this excitement it was time for the baby to be placed back into his sleeping quarters and settle down for an after dinner nap.  There’s no doubt about it, it’s a tiring life being a famous baby.

Time for a nap

The North Island Brown Kiwi was re-introduced to the reserve after an 100 year absence.  The kiwi population is growing with the help of the kiwi nursery.   Unfortunately the rugged terrain does not allow for the erection of  predator proof fencing around the perimeter  and an intensive predator control programme is carried out.  All of the predators are introduced species such as “Stoats, Ferrets, All types of Rats, feral Cats, uncontrolled Dogs and Possums” just to name a few. It is a shame really as the Kiwi is our native bird and what we all like to be called and it is endangered and virtually extinct on the main islands.

Attractions at Castlepoint

We weren’t the only ones enjoying a trip to Castlepoint beach recently.  Youngsters in wet suits ventured out with their boogie boards for some fun in the waves, hoping to catch a decent  wave for a good ride back.  There were plenty of people paddling in the shallow water as they walked along the beach, most of them seemed to be accompanied by children and the family dog. 

As well as the beach there is a lagoon protected by a rock barrier which is a popular and safe swimming spot for youngsters, and is next to the adjacent boat harbour.  Close by are the large boats and their equally large trailers from the local fishing fleet.  Some of the outfits were self propelled trailers with six wheel hydraulic drive, impressive. There must be some serious money tied up in these machines.

We watched as a driver on a blue tractor backed a trailer down to the beach, taking it  right out into the waves as the respective fishing boat came in.  The skipper of the boat has to drive the boat up into the trailer, and once safely in place, the tractor driver puts his foot down and carries the fishing boat safely ashore.

Coming ashore

Castle Rock  was so named by Captain Cook as the rock formation on the skyline looks like a castle when viewed from the sea.  Keen climbers tackle this peak and we could see them as tiny dots in the distance.

Castle Rock, the lagoon,  and the fishing fleet on the beach

While we were climbing up to Castlepoint Lighthouse, Derek had fishing on his mind.  He had recently purchased a surf casting rod and decided to try his luck fishing off the rocks while we laboured up the lighthouse track in the hot sun.  Alas, it wasn’t his day, and the fish weren’t biting at all, so there was no fish on the menu that night.

   That’s Derek on the right

After all our exertions it was time to stop at the local shop to enjoy an ice-cream.  Pamela is recuperating from surgery so wasn’t able to join us on our trek up to the lighthouse.  While the rest of us were out and about in the hot and blustery conditions she was very sensibly relaxing over a freshly brewed coffee in the cafe.  There is plenty to see and do at Castlepoint Beach and the 175km round trip took us through rolling farmland, hills covered with native bush and planted in pine forests.

Castlepoint Lighthouse

The decision was made – let’s take a picnic lunch and drive out to the coast to Castlepoint.  Perhaps we will go for a dip (or not) and maybe even climb up to the lighthouse.  We drove through rolling farmland, dotted with sheep and cattle, and paddocks filled  hay just cut and bailed for winter feed.  Manuka trees on the hillsides were covered in snowy white flowers and no doubt hives were dotted nearby for the bees to gather the nectar to turn into delicious manuka honey.  We ate our picnic lunch looking out over the beach, with the lighthouse beckoning us in the distance. 

Our first glimpse of Castlepoint Lighthouse

Four of us decided to make the trek up to the lighthouse.  There was a sign warning of windy conditions so we were pleased that we had brought warm jackets and would have to hang on to our hats. 

Strong wind warning

The concrete path was new and replaced an earlier timber staircase and raised timber boardwalk over the sandy spit which is under water at high tide.  It was a popular walk and we passed lots of family groups wending their way up and down the path.  Luckily the grade was quite easy and we made it in good time to the lighthouse.

Follow the path to the top

Built in 1912, the cast iron tower stands 23 metres high and the light can be seem 30 km out to sea.  The light originally burnt oil and now operates on mains electricity using a 1000 watt lamp with a diesel generator for standby power.  It was fully automated in 1988 and the light is now monitored by computer by Maritime New Zealand staff. 

  Castlepoint Lighthouse

Dot, Jenny, Robin and Don buffeted by the wind

We were intrigued to read a sign about “Brachyglottis Compacta” a rare bright yellow daisy with silvery leaves.  Castlepoint is the only location in the world where this daisy grows naturally.  It grows well amongst the crumbled limestone habitat and the blustery conditions.  Would we be able to spot this rare plant?  Dot quickly found the first bush so out came the cameras.

The yellow daisy only grows in Castlepoint

As we walked back down the track I noticed that there were a few twinges in my knees – a sure sign of advancing years.  It was a lovely walk, with glorious views out over the beach and village.  Surely after all that exercise we deserve an ice-cream?

New arrivals in Camp

After a few days of camping side by side at Carterton Motor Camp with Dot and Derek, we were joined by caravan club friends Don and Pamela – and then there were three of us all in a row. 

Our three vans all in a row

The three men all wrestled to put Don’s large awning up, and after a few mis-starts and a change of plan here and there, the job was finally done.  This awning will give us some cover in the evenings if the weather turns cold and nasty.

Don, Robin and Derek helping with the awning

Also arriving in camp on the same day were four vehicles crammed with children, bikes, tents and supplies.  These people had obviously been away camping together before and we watched from under the shade of our gazebo as the large tents were expertly erected in no time at all, with a minimum of fuss.  Then a huge white gazebo was erected and we just had to go and see what the story was.  They were very friendly and chatted away, telling us that their group of friends (and their children) go camping every Christmas, choosing a different location each year.  The gazebo is their camp kitchen and dining room, we were told, and was set with camp tables and chairs all ready to serve meals to the 20 or so people in the group.  As their group has grown over time, the equipment has become more sophisticated.  One of the group, a blacksmith  by trade, had designed and built a trailer to house all the kitchen equipment for the holiday.  It contains drawers for cutlery, pace for crockery and containers of food, and it all folds up neatly to be towed.  We were most impressed with this clever piece of engineering.

Custom made catering trailer

We continue to enjoy hot sunny Wairapapa weather, so there is no trouble getting the washing dry.  After all, just because we are on holiday, doesn’t mean that the laundry duties don’t get done.

Never ending laundry duties

The sun lit up the drops of water as the hose sprinkler watered this part of the garden.  Carterton Motor Camp is one of our favourite camps, and is very well maintained by managers Pete and Di.