Maungakawa Scenic Reserve: A Photo Journey
When my mother said she wanted to go for a walk at an old TB sanatorium, I was a bit skeptical. How peaceful would a place be that used to house sick and dying men and women? But, I am trying a new thing when I say yes more often. I said yes to the walk.
Reader, enjoy a brief photo essay on the Maungakawa Scenic Reserve, followed by some cold hard facts.
We arrived to the smell of daffodils and the sound of whizzing by Tuis fighting for the rights of giant blossom trees amongst themselves. The tui who could flap their wings the loudest seemed to be the winner here.
Tui eating its victory spoils.
A daffodil about to bloom.
Fly or bee? Who knows. I sure don’t. If you do, comment below and you will win a prize.
Spring had arrived. The yellow daffodils and pink blossoms were chasing away the grey and gloom that had been hanging over New Zealand over the last few months. Taking a moment, I plodded my butt down right in the middle of them. (No daffodils where harmed in the making of this photo)
Hide and Seek with a ladybug.
We entered the forest, with daffodils in our lungs and blossoms in our hair. We were eager to get exploring. The walk was lush and green. Moss, ferns, and plants crawling over everything. Roots cutting through the gravel paths, you were in nature’s domain here it seemed. I spotted this guy above, and liked how the leaf acted as a natural frame. Playing hide and seek with a lady bug,
Tree trunk covered in moss, a reflection or not.
The density of the forest awed me. The lushness of everything also awed. I loved finding different things around the forest, that looked so green and pure New Zealand bush. This log stood out to me, as it seemed as if I was viewing it in a reflection. Or at least half of this was a reflection.
Vine hug.
The vine was hugging this branch in a tight embrace. Entangled together, there was no way to know where one began and one ended. As nature often is. Confusion.
The greens and the softness of the forest in this walk amazed me. I wanted to press my hands close to this tree and feel the softness and life that nature is. I call this soaking in green and we need to do it more often as a people. It is very good for the mind.
Look closer.
Look closer and you may see a slimy surprise. There is a snail hidden on this tree, I only noticed as I was getting close and personal with this tree. That is what I love about going into nature; the surprises that you can discover.
Turtle or tree?
I noticed this unusual tree branch when I was walking past. I thought it looked like a disgruntled turtle, what do you think?
Mushroom or brain?
Doesn’t this look squishy. I found this fungi as I was walking past a bunch of trees. It looked like a brain to me. A brain of what, I could not tell you. But a brain nevertheless.
The view from above.
Emerging from the green, this was the view that greeted us. A patchwork of farms, rolling pastures, and dramatic clouds. I stood on a picnic table and took eight or so images with my 80mm lens for this image. I ended up stitching them all together to create this.
Facts
Where: Maungakawa Scenic Reserve, Te Miro 3496: Keep driving when you see the sign, as that is someone’s driveway. Go up and up the windy road, and you will eventually get there.
Facilities: Toilets. It is a long drop, so if that is not your thing you may have to hold it. My mother has a fear of a rat crawling up and biting her butt. She calls these bat rats, as they can fly up the toilet thing and bite her butt.
Wildlife: Tuis, fantails, snails, blackbirds is what I saw. Go out and discover some things yourself :).
Walk: 30mins loop return.