Hi! For as long as I can remember I have loved taking photos. I don't have any fancy camera equipment, like big telescopic lenses or even a tripod and my camera is mostly always set on automatic. Because when I 'see' a photo, I just like to quickly snap it. Over the years I've been on a lot of hiking and photography adventures and I've 'seen' thousands of photos, some of which I'd love to share with you here :)
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Hakatere Conservation Park, Ashburton Lakes Area, South Island, New Zealand
Many many years ago when I was a teenager, my two friends and I went away for the weekend with my parents and their friends to stay in a bach (pronounced 'batch' - that's what we call a holiday cottage in New Zealand). The bach was located in a tiny village alongside a lake and nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. This village was called Lake Clearwater and it was in the Hakatere Conservation Park area, also known as the Ashburton Lakes area.
I remember we woke up to snow capped mountains and a beautiful reflection on the clear still lake.
Here's a photo of little teenage me and the stunning view.
I've never forgotten it and I wonder if this was the start of my water reflections obsession?!
Now, in adulthood, this conservation park has become one of my favourite areas in New Zealand to explore and I'm excited to share some of the photos I have taken of these beautiful surroundings.
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About 7kms from Mt Somers, driving towards the lakes on the Ashburton Gorge Rd, is a small yellow sign to indicate an 'Historic Place'. It's quite easy to miss but the limestone cottage is worth a stop.
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Cross the wee bridge and walk to the limestone cottage and have a look inside!
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Around 23 km from Mt Somers are the Hakatere Station Historic Buildings. Driving along Ashburton Gorge Rd, the historic buildings are situated by the turn off to Hakatere Heron Rd and where the road switches to Hakatere Potts Rd. The buildings are not hard to miss as they are well sign posted and next to the road.
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The oldest of the buildings built in 1862 was the old stone cottage. It was once a home for the head shepherd. There's also a building that was once the shearer's quarters which was built in the 1870s. I found a good history of the buildings HERE.
Inside the shearer's quarters building was an information room with information panels detailing the history and ecology of the area.My favourite of the old buildings was the Home Gully Hut which was accessed by a short walk. This hut, built in the 1950s, was originally located on the southern slopes of Mt Catherine but had been shifted and restored by the Hakatere Heritage Committee as a reminder of the harsh conditions the musterers had to live in.
"This hut is typical of the accommodation provided for 8 men and 30 odd dogs required to muster the thousands of sheep that once grazed the Hakatere Conservation Park. The muster could take many weeks living in these huts."
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Lake Clearwater is approximately 38kms from Mt Somers. Next to the lake is a small village of mainly holiday homes.
No powercrafts are permitted on Lake Clearwater but it is an ideal lake for windsurfing as it can get quite windy.
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Adjacent to Lake Clearwater is the smaller Lake Camp where powercrafts are permitted. No doubt it's a popular spot during the busy festive season.
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Lake Camp is also known for beautiful clear reflections. I was lucky enough to experience waking up to this stunning view on morning of my birthday. The best present I could ask for!
I had a wander around taking photos before we headed away to do the Mt Sunday hike.
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In my opinion the best scenery in the Hakatere Conservation Park area is on the road past Lake Clearwater heading in towards Mt Potts and Erewhon Station.I love this area so much that I had one of my photos enlarged and printed on a canvas and it's hanging on my lounge wall so I can see it every day :)
It's kind of out of this world scenery isn't it, very majestic and mystical. I can actually see why they chose this area to film some of the Lord of the Rings scenes.
It's kind of out of this world scenery isn't it, very majestic and mystical. I can actually see why they chose this area to film some of the Lord of the Rings scenes.
Further up the Hakatere Potts Rd there's a little hill sitting alone in a paddock. This is Mt Sunday. LOTR fans will know it as the home of Edoras - Rohan’s capital city.
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The walk up to the top of Mt Sunday is well worth it for the view! (More photos on my blog post HERE )
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Back at the intersection by the Hakatere Station Historic Buildings, a right turn onto Hakatere Heron Rd heads towards Lake Heron. As per the road driving into Lake Clearwater and Mt Potts, the road is gravel with a few potholes. But the surrounding views are beautiful!
The Maori lakes are by the road and a nice peaceful spot to have a picnic or to do some bird watching.Lake Heron is about 20 mins up the road. Turn right just before the lake and follow the road to the starting point for a number of DOC tracks, both day walks and overnight tramps.
My photos can't convey how majestic the Hakatere Conservation area is, nor the peace and tranquility of it. Truly beautiful.
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Lake Heron is one of the largest lakes in the Ashburton lakes area and is named after the white heron bird which were found around the shores.
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