Hiking along the Whakapapanui River

This area is frequently very windy as it was on our one full day to hike. The Whakapapanui River Trail was recommended as it was fairly sheltered from the wind. it was a lovely 5+ mile hike along the river through dense forest of beech (NZ beech is not really beech!), ferns and heather.















We crossed a long bog/wetland and encountered numerous spider nests. (See white spot in picture!) The spider builds these cacoon like nests. Thousands of spiders emerge with the spider returning again to the same nest to lay more eggs.


Another NZ phenomenon is these rodent traps which are found ALL over the countryside. Man brought mammals to NZ and these animals became predators for the native birds, many of which had become flightless due to lack of predators. These traps catch possum, weasel, ferrets, rats and stoats. School children build the traps and communities and park workers are all over the country check and rebait them. Poison is also left all over the bush. There are frequent warnings not to eat the pellets and keep dogs away!!!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone