Hawkins Hill

It feels like summer with another perfect trekking weekend. Our trekking started in the morning and ended in the evening after spending six and a half hours on the Hawkins Hill and Seal Colony. The trip started off at the Brooklyn Wind Turbine, follows Hawkins Hill Road, up to the highest point on Te Kopahau Reserve (484m above sea level) and onto the hill above Sinclair Head. The final part is to head down to the Seal Colony at Sinclair Head.

Gear Talk

For this long and tough trip, I brought the Nikon D700, Nikon 20mm f/2.8, filters and…………the heavy Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 with me. I used the Think Tank Belt with Lens Changer 75 Pop Down to carry the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 and the rest fitted in the Speed Changer.

The first hour was an easy walk getting to Hawkins Hill. We could see West Wind (Wind Farm) on our right hand side. There are a total 62 wind turbines at West Wind, but I can only see 30 odds from there.

6 of the 62 wind turbines with South Island in the background.

Looking down from Te Kopahau. Heading towards to the World War II bunkers at the far end.

Seal Colony, on the right hand side of Sinclair Head.

Red Rock, on the left hand side of Sinclair Head.

Ferry across Cook Strait with South Island in the background

Pencarrow Trip

Another prefect weekend for trekking. The trip started early at Burdan Gate carpark at the end of Muritai Road. Heading south is the beautiful Pencarrow Coast Road. The trek is fairly long and will cover quite a bit of distance, so travel light is essential. I only brought the Nikon D700, Nikon 20mm f/2.8 and filters.

The first two hours is a relax coastal walk to Pencarrow Head.

As you near Pencarrow Head you can climb the path up the hill promontory for spectacular views from the historic Pencarrow Lighthouse

Pencarrow Lighthouse - Built in 1858, was the first in New Zealand.

We stopped for lunch at the lighthouse, took a break, admiring the spectacular view from the top.

We then continue our trek to Bluffpoint lookout where we spotted the second Pencarrow Lighthouse by the coast. Owing to occasional fog obscuring the light, the low level lighthouse was built in 1906

At this point we have already spent four hours there, we then continue to trek around Lake Kohangapiriri for the next two hours which goes through a bit of wetland and farmland.

At the end of the lakeside track, it exits out to the beach which is about two hours away from the entrance at Muritai Road.

On the way back, we passed the lower level Pencarrow lighthouse.

By the time we return to the entrance. The sun is already starting to set. This ends our eight hours trip at Pencarrow.

Thanks Grace for sticking by :D

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

Off to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary for a bit of trekking today. We spent about 3hr+ trekking around the place, exploring the wildlife and habitats in the area.

Ara Kawau – electric boat

Reaching to the top of the dam

Tilt-Shift shot of the dam

We then off to the Turbine track. Nick at the front setting the pace, while I am at the back making sure Grace is not left behind.

After an hour walk in the bush, we reached the Wind Turbine (370m)

Nesting with turbine at the background.

Conquering Mt. KauKau

The weather was beautiful in Wellington over the weekend. Grace and I took the afternoon to conquer Mt. KauKau.

The sign says it should take about one hour to get to the top of Mt. KauKau

Going through the northern walkway

Grace superb out of focus shot.............

Up the stairs..... Notice the D700 is in my hand...So this photo is taken with the LX3......equally as good.

Surrounded by plantation

Pass this point to get to the top

We are nearly there……..we can see the top

Finally, at the top, spectacular views of the Wellington city, harbour and the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges

Fairly winding up there

Wellington's main television transmitter tower - the Kordia TV transmitter mast (100m+ tall)

A lookout deck erected in 1972

Direction map indicating Picton is 64km away

What are we looking at……………….?

Looking up the mask from our POV.

Resting and relaxing under the sun before making a return trip.

Such a perfect day at Mt KauKau.

Us and Mt. KauKau

At the end of Conquering Mt. KauKau

Panorama View at the top