Day 7: Cook Straight to Oamaru

After a lack-luster breakfast we headed to the terminal of the InterIslander, a ferry that shuttles people from the North Island to the South Island through Cooks Straight. While leaving Wellington Harbor, we spotted the Miramar Peninsula, that has Mt. Crawford as its highest peak, Pencarrow Head, that is a rounded knoll with the oldest lighthouse (1859) in New Zealand located on it, and Karori Rip, where two tides meet making a very noticeable rip. For three hours we spent enjoying the view of Cooks Straight, which the Maori call Raukawakawa Moana. Once we got closer to the South Island, we were able to see Whekenui Bay, which according to legend, Tuhirangi guided Kupe to catch and kill a giant octopus. Entering into the Tory Channel, we spotted Cook's Lookout on Arapawa Island. There is a monument that commemorates the spot from which Captain Cook first sighted the stretch of water that bears his name. Deep in Queen Charlotte Sound, we docked in Picton. Before heading to Oamaru, we did a quick stop to fix a flat tire on one of the vans and also a quick bathroom stop before heading out on a long journey to Oamaru. The scenery changed from lush green vegetation to a brown landscape, expect where there was water drainage. This is known as the rain shadow side of the mountains. Due to oorgraphic lift, moisture is forced out of the clouds as the clouds ascend to cross of the mountain. This force causes rain to fall on the windward side of the mountain, hence the lush green vegetation we experienced on the North Island. On the leeward side of the mountain, the clouds are lacking moisture so there is a noticeably dry area referred to the rain shadow.Several stops along the way for lunch and dinner along with a quick stop at the 45th parallel marker broke up the very long drive to Oamaru. Once in Oamaru, we got our room assignments at the Empire Hostel then headed back in the van to the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. We were unable to take pictures of the blue penguins since they were nesting and the flash would bother them. As we sat quietly watching the world's smallest penguins jump up the cliff from the ocean water, you could hear the calling form the chicks that were hidden in the grassy knoll on the cliff. The penguins come ashore in groups and will wait a few minutes before heading to their nests.

Finally around midnight we headed off to bed.

Day 6: On the road to Wellington

Early morning breakfast before heading out to the doctor's office in Ohakune. A few of the girls on the trip started showing signs of a rash so we're detouring to the doctors before heading on to Wellington.
While on the road to Okahune, we stopped along the side of the road to view lahar evidence. On top of the lahar, vegetation can be seen followed by a homogenous layer of ash. Winter time is a good time for lahar activity because of the snow/ice.

In Okahune, we mailed postcards, did some invertebrae sampling in the river and took a turbidity and temperature sample. After everyone finished at the doctors we loaded up the vans and continued on to Wellington.
Along the way we stopped at the Tangiwai Disaster Memorial. Christmas Eve 1953 a lahar knocked out the highway bridge and railroad. Due to the failure of a train engineer, the train didn't stop in tme and 151 people lost their lives.
By 6pm, we arrived in Wellington and headed to the hostel. After depositing our bags, we headed to the Te Papa Museum. Before heading into the museum, we viewed the isolator system invented by Dr. William Robinson. This system helps to absorb motion caused by earthquakes. The museum is sitting on 152 isolators. Kia Ngawari te Ru translates into "Breaking the Quake."

The museum was amazing. Viewing the Maori artifacts and learning more about their culture was a rewarding experience. One interesting story that stood out was about the Te Kore (void). This is supposedly where the stirrings of creation began in Maori culture. Te Po was the darkness adn out came Te Ao Marama, the light. Ihonui is the space that suggests both the emptiness and the vast possibilities of creation.

One Maori staying that stands out also is "He taonga no te whenua me hoki ano ki te whenua." Which translated says "What is given by the land should return to the land."

After a recap and two student presentations on Penguins and the Maori culture, we called it a night.

Day 5: Tongariro National Park

The night before had us ending a VERY long day at the Polynesian Spa. It was relaxing to dip into spa water that is a mixture of geothermal water from the geyser added with cold water. There were several pools to choose from. Just sitting the pool letting the super heated water take away all the knots and aches from traveling made it easy to fall asleep. After a quick breakfast at the hostel (pancakes and fresh fruit) we headed out to Tongariro National Park. Driving along Highway 5 we say a lot of magpipes and myna birds along the side of the road along with an invasive shrub species named gurse. The shrub had some nice yellow blooms. Some fields had windbreakers along the edge while other fields were being replanted with saplings of the Lumbari Popular. The tree is used for pulp so after it is harvested the field is replanted and will take about 30 years before the field can be harvested again.

We stopped at Huka Falls Lookout to view the Rupahu volcano on its fault line. The southern end of the fault line is a very active region and heads about 50 miles off North Island. All volcanoes, Taranaki, Ngauruhoe, and Rupahu can be seen from the lookout and are considered active volcanoes.
Took a photo op on a volcanic plateau that gave a spectacular view of Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Rupahu. Around the area was a lot of lichen (raindeer and fiberous forms). They are pioneer species because the colonize bare rock/soil or distrubed areas. Volcanic ash helps build up the soil in the area. Smaller plants would then be able to take root and succession continues.We arrived at the Adventure Lodge and headed out to the national park. At the vistor's center, we caught a brief video on volcanoes and looked at the displays. Some interesting displays were the pyroclastic debris and steam clouds displays. There was also displays on species that call NZ home. After the vistor's center we headed out to the ridge and took a hike. There was evidence of radial drianage patterns caused by snow melt. Alpine vegetation is composed of lichen, mosses, shrubs, and waxy-leaved plants. Erosion of the area is mainly due to composition and climate of the area. After several minutes looking over the ridge, we headed back to the lodge for a fabulous steak dinner and a recap of all that was seen/experienced so far.