Day 31: Hokitika - Okarito
We absorb the West Coast pace of life on the most recent part of the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Riding on coastal cycle trail, secondary roads, and finally highway we enjoy a smorgasbord of farmland, stunning bush and lakes.
We had no internet connectivity in our house in the tiny seaside community of Okarito so this is posted a day late.
Although we generally get up and get going at the same time every day (breakfast at 7, on the bike by 8), it seems to be getting light a bit later in the morning these last few days. Nice to have a room to myself last night.
Crossing the Hokitika River on the way out of town. Both shots were taken at the same time. First one facing east; second one facing west.
Surprisingly, the instructions didn't take us right back onto the WCWT, but rather down a gravel road for a while.
Then onto the Mananui Tramline, which was part of the WCWT.
A nice boardwalk section through a bit of a swamp/wetland.
More jungle-like vegetation............
This was an interesting info board. There was a similar area of forestry experimentation the Linda took me to on the North Island when I visited in 2017. I think that's where we did the "tree-top walk". They have one of those near here as well.
The next long-ish section of trail was a fairly straight-shot along the old rail line to Ross.
And finally over the Totara River and into Ross by about 30 km.
We didn't actually go to the official end of the trail, but we got within a couple of kms. Beautiful trail end to end!
Once again the cuesheets I was provided gave me a different route than the RWGPS, so I followed Robyn down a gravel road detour for about 10 kms. Honestly though, I would have been just as happy with the paved road route on my cuesheets.
In to Lake Ianthe for lunch at about 60 km.
Back on the road again.
This afternoon the rivers we crossed appeared to be glacier-fed for the first time. Here's the Wanganui River.
Miscellaneous views..............
I think if you live in a town with the name Harihari you have to have a sense of humour.
Lots of history here too. There was also a lot of info on Guy Menzies, an Australian aviator who flew the first solo trans-Tasman flight from Sydney to a landing site on the coast near here in 1931. Quite a monument to him, including a model of his plane - but, I didn't take any photos.
More glacial river crossings and then a climb up Mount Hercules, followed by a sweet downhill.
The full day was about 130 km and my body was happier to stop at about 100. I can tolerate the bike positioning a bit more than at the start of the trip, but I still wouldn't call it comfortable. And - the ongoing injuries are still not terribly happy. So - I joined 4 others in the van and carried on to the tiny community of Okarito. We are staying in 3 different houses, and I was lucky enough to be in the one where all the meals were. A former EA bike guide who now runs (with her husband) the local kayak touring company prepared a lovely dinner for us.
I did take a stroll around town before calling it a night. The setting here is magical. It is on a large lagoon (the kayak tours are in the lagoon; not on the ocean) with views of the lagoon, the ocean and some of the southern Alps. At 3,240 hectares, Okarito is the largest estuarine wetland on the West Coast, and New Zealand's largest natural wetland. The town itself was originally a (short-lived) gold mining settlement. The population reached over 1500 in 1866, but is now home to only about 30 residents.
This little building hanging out into the lagoon houses an enormous amount of historical information.
Some beach views from my little walk.
A stand along the street. I don't need repellent; I just need Sheri & Bart around to attract them all.
Here's Donovan's Store, the oldest known building on the West Coast - right across the street from our house.
This Okarito Memorial Obelisk, a heritage listed site, commemorates the 1860 purchase of Westland from the local Maori, as well as the dates that Abel Tasman (1642) and James Cook (1770) sailed by.
Another very good day.............
Stats for the day:
Distance: 101 km
Elevation (Garmin): 2242' up, 1950' down
Elevation (RWGPS): 4124' up, 3815' down. I left the app open for about 1 km in the van, so it counted a bit of up and down that I didn't ride, but not very much.....
Weather: 10C - 21C. We had a bit of everything, including some very light showers a few times.
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