Hakatere Conservation Park brochure
Transcript of Hakatere Conservation Park brochure
Mountain-bike track classifications
Grade 2 mountain bike— mostly flat with some gentle climbs on smooth track with easily avoidable obstacles such as rocks and potholes
Grade 3 mountain bike—steep slopes and/or avoidable obstacles possibly on narrow track and/or with poor traction. There may be exposure at track’s outside edge
Walking track classifications
All track times and distances are one way
Walking track—well formed easy walks from a few minutes to a day
Tramping track—mostly unformed but has track directional markers, poles or cairns
Route—unformed, suitable only for people with high-level backcountry skills and experience
Formed by ice, water, and scouring wind, the park is an expansive open landscape. The Ashburton lakes form a central hub and the braided waters of the Rangitata and the Rakaia rivers are the southern and northern boundaries.
The headwaters of both rivers are notable landscapes – the upper Rangitata featured as the fortress of Edoras in the Lord of the Rings film. Other distinctive features are kettleholes (depressions), found largely in the eastern South Island high country.
What you can do
Within the park are opportunities for swimming, boating, tramping, hunting (red deer, tahr, chamois and pig), mountaineering, skiing (Mt Hutt ski field), mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, bird watching, camping and picnicking.
All hunters must have a hunting permit obtainable from any DOC office. Also check www.doc.govt.nz
Getting there
Hakatere Conservation Park is approximately 144 km south of Christchurch or 25 km inland from Mount Somers township. Access is via Inland Scenic Route 72 or State Highway 77.
Tramping and mountain biking
Public access easements across private land are marked from the public road.
On public access easements ensure you:
Stay on the marked track•Leave gates as you find them•Do not disturb stock•
Other individual brochures give details on Mt Somers, Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park and tracks on Mt Hutt, Mt Alford and Tenehaun.
1 Mt Potts easement track 1.5 km, 30 min,
2 Mt Sunday easement track 45 min
3 Lake Clearwater Track 5 km
4 Lake Emma to Lake Camp/Otautari 9 km, 2 hr 30 min
5 Balmacaan Stream to Balmacaan Saddle 4.8 km, 2 hours
6 Lake Emma access road to Lake Roundabout 5 min 7 Hakatere Heron Rd to Boundary Creek Hut 9.2 km, 2 hours 30 min
8 Lake Heron/Oturoto to Harrisons Bight 3.9 km, 1 hour
9 Mouth of Swin River to Double Hut 6.9 km, 3 hours
10 Double Hut to Manuka Hut 5.5 km, 1 hr 30 min
11 Double Hut to Comyns Hut 8 hours
12 Comyns Hut to A-frame Hut 5.2 km, 2 hr 30 min
13 A-frame Hut to Rakaia valley 9.5 km, 3 hr
14 Cameron Hut 5 hours, unmarked route
Four-wheel-drive access is available at marked sites over the summer months unless restricted by ground conditions or fire risk. For up-to-date information contact Raukapuka Area Office
Te AraroaThe park includes part of Te Araroa – a walking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. www.teararoa.org.nz
Hakatere Conservation Park
Mid canterbury
Pho
to: H
Iles
Takata whenua – the first people of the land
Te Kopi o Hakatere/Ashburton Gorge was the main pounamu/greenstone trail for the Arowhenua Hapü – Käti Huirapa. The trail connects the upper reaches of the Rakaia to Noti Raureka/Browning Pass and then down to Te Tai Poutini/the West Coast. Travellers gathered food as they made their way from one coast to the other. The name ö Tü Wharekai, given to the Ashburton lakes and upper Rangitata River area, is not a literal translation, i.e. the place of a food store-house, but is a poetic description of the area as a well-stocked natural food basket on the journey to the Arahura, the pounamu capital of the Mäori world.
European history
Pastoral farming, particularly merino sheep farming, was the dominant activity in early days of European settlement. Within the park there is evidence of this past in the historic hut at Lake Emma, the Hakatere Station buildings, musterers’ huts and pack tracks.
Native vegetation, regarded as an obstruction to travel and grazing, was often cleared by burning. L Kennaway, an early runholder, described setting fire to the hill country to get his stock through: “. . . a hot, roaring belt of fire blazed up the hill-side, hissing and crackling, and . . . absolutely screaming human screams, as the thick untouched jungle of scores of years withered and twisted in the flames.”
The arrival of the railway to Mount Somers in 1889 made the region more accessible, sheep transportation became easier, and the exploitation of minerals more economically viable. It led to the development of service-centre townships at Methven and Mount Somers.
Ö Tü Wharekai wetland restoration project
The Ashburton lakes basin and upper Rangitata River contain some of New Zealand’s best remaining high-country freshwater wetland and braided-river ecosystems. They have been chosen as one of three sites nationally to be managed under the Arawai Kakariki wetland restoration project, with ongoing integrated management, community involvement and coordinated research. The overall aim is long-term protection of these vital freshwater habitats.
Further information
More information is available from the DOC Raukapuka Area office and local information centres. To report any incidents, issues or sightings of conservation interest, contact the Department of Conservation.
DOC Raukapuka Area Office North Terrace, GERALDINEPhone 03 693 1010 Fax 03 693 1019
Dial 111 for emergency
Native plants you might see
Fescue-tussock and snow-tussock grasslands are common, with remnants, largely of mountain beech/tawhairauriki forest, along the eastern foothills. Second- growth forest is also present in pockets along the foothills. Species include broadleaf, Halls tötara, fuchsia/kötukutuku, marbleleaf/putaputäweta, köhühü and pökäkä, with crown fern and bush lawyer. Southern rätä, a botanical rarity in this part of Canterbury, is also found in places.
Wetlands in the park include some of the best examples of red tussock (Chionochloa rubra) and Carex secta/pükio in Canterbury.
Threatened plants in the area include pygmy forget-me-not (Myosotis minutiflora), Carex tenuiculmis (a sedge), and one of the largest known populations of a native lily Iphigenia novae-zelandiae in New Zealand.
An extensive complex of kettlehole wetlands with associated turf vegetation occurs among moraines. This is a rare habitat type nationally and important for birds. Threatened turf-forming plants found here include pygmy clubrush (Isolepis basilaris) and dwarf woodrush (Luzula celata) and a water brome or semi-aquatic grass (Amphibromus fluitans).
. . . and native animals
The rivers, lakes and wetlands provide nationally important habitat for many bird species including the endangered wrybill/ngutu pare, black-fronted tern/tarapirohe, Australasian crested grebe/ kämana (below right), Australasian bittern/matuku and marsh crake/koitareke. Lizards/ngärara are also found, including the scree skink, one of New Zealand’s largest lizards (below left). There is a spectacular and distinct wëtä, Mount Somers giant wëtä, a Deinacrida species, as well as native fish, and a diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
Published byDepartment of ConservationCanterbury ConservancyPrivate Bag 4715Christchurch, New Zealand 2009
Suggestions for corrections or improvements should be emailed to: [email protected]
Take care visiting natural areas
Fire—This area is prone to extreme fire danger and restrictions apply at all times.
River crossings
• alwaystreattheriverswithrespect–drowningwassocommon in early colonial times it was known as ‘the New Zealand death’
• nevercrossadirtyorfloodedriver• rivercurrentsareoftenstrongerthantheyappear• waterlevelscanriserapidlyduetoraininthe
headwaters; it does not need to be raining at the crossing place
• braidsoftherivercanshiftandtheremaybesoftsinking sand
• ifindoubt,stayputuntilconditionsimprove,orturnback.
Avalanche—Be aware of avalanche run-out zones from June to November. In avalanche terrain, we recommend carrying avalanche transceivers 457 kHz, probes and shovels.
Communication—There is no cellphone coverage in this park. The use of satellite phones, mountain radios or personal locator beacons can all provide increased personal safety.
Photo: G. Chance
Public conservation land
Wildlife Refuge
Historic site
Row boating
Power boating
No power boating
Enjoy your visit
Toitu te whenua(Leave the land undisturbed)
Protect plants and animals
Remove rubbish
Bury toilet waste
Keep streams and lakes clean
Take care with fires
Camp carefully
Keep to the track
Consider others
Respect our cultural heritage
Parking area
Camping area
Toilets
Shelter
Serviced hut–bunks or sleeping platforms with mattresses. Heating, water supply, toilet and hand-washing facilities. 3 hut tickets per adult per night
Standard hut–bunks or sleeping platforms with mattresses. Toilet and water supply. 1 hut ticket per adult per night
Basic hut–basic shelter with limited facilities and services. Free
Hakatere Conservation Park
Proposed park additions
0 5
kilometres
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Check, Clean, Dry
Stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests.
Remember to Check, Clean, Dry all items before entering, and when moving between, waterways.