Hosts: Marita & Warren Jowett When: Anytime Length of stay: One to several days Number of guests: Maximum group size 6 persons Languages: English Cost in NZ$: One-day tours: $140 per person Two-day tours: $280 per person Three-day tours: $420 per person The ecotour fee covers all transport including pick up and delivery from Christchurch ($40 reduction if you drive yourself to Staveley), accommodation, all meals, Department of Conservation concession fee, Goods and Services Tax. Accommodation: There are two options. Both are very comfortable, provide all facilities and respect the privacy of guests. Ross Cottage, shown at the right, is a beautifully restored historic cottage now registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (Reg.No. 51212). Mountain Beech Lodge was constructed in 1999. The property contains ancient podocarps (kahikatea) and other remnants of the original bush as well as extensive plantings of natives. Location: For a detailed map of local roads, click here. About the tours: All tours leave Christchurch at 8.30am and return by 6.30pm. Other times can be arranged to suit. Maximum group size 6 persons. Poor weather conditions or particular preferences may lead to a tour being changed. We are flexible. No hiking experience is necessary but some fitness and enthusiasm is required. Prices include all transport, guiding, accommodation, meals and Department of Conservation fees. Self drive to Staveley reduces the price by $40. Transport is by comfortable 4WD minivan. Fitness level Our nature tours can be designed to suit the fitness level of participants. Each involves some walking - between 2 and 8 hours depending on the options chosen. Each also involves some travel in our modern 4WD minivan. For more physically demanding nature tours there is more walking and less driving. For example the climb of Mt Somers involves 8 hours hiking and an altitude gain of 1200 metres. The alpine flowers tour to Mt Hutt also involves 1200 metres altitude gain - but in the minivan! Stay as a group We always keep together as a group on the tours. We walk together and frequently stop to look, listen, feel and smell the environment we are part of. And, of course, we have frequent snack stops, morning tea and lunch to look forward to! We insist on group cohesiveness not only for sociability and interpretation but also for safety - weather can change rapidly in the areas we visit. Interest and enthusiasm Our nature tours take you to areas where you will see few if any people. You need to be a person who likes "getting away from it all" and keen to learn about the fauna, flora and the landscape. You are not at Queenstown or Milford Sound - and nor are you amongst hordes of other people! The tracks you walk on may not be as smooth as the Milford Track but the scenery is no less impressive. The tracks may be a little rough and slippery in places and for this reason you need to have sturdy footwear. You need to be reasonably fit to gain maximum enjoyment out of the nature tours but they also can be tailored to suit someone who is not able to undertake a lot of physical activity. And there is no age limit! We have had 80 year old clients who have had a ball What to bring (Because New Zealand's weather is changeable you need to be prepared for hot or cold, wet or windy weather.) A good quality waterproof parka Warm clothing - vest, woollen jersey, gloves, warm hat. Back pack (small) Hiking boots or stout walking shoes. Sun hat, sun screen, sun glasses, insect repellent Drink bottle (1 litre). Optional: Binoculars, camera, walking poles. We supply: Walking poles. We do have spare clothing such as parkas, hats, gloves if you forget yours. Food. This includes: "on-the-track" snacks; morning and afternoon teas and lunch out in the field; dinner supper and breakfast back at the Lodge. Personal care: Injuries: Some of the tracks we hike on are uneven and can be slippery after rain. We need to know if you have had previous injuries to ankles or knees (bring a good reliable knee or ankle support) Walking poles are supplied. Insects: We do have sandflies (but not of the Milford Sound size). The more serious insect problem is the common wasp which can build up in numbers during the summer in mountain beech forest. If you are allergic to wasp stings it is important that you carry your own medication and that we are informed before the trip. Sunburn: All New Zealanders are encouraged to be "sunsmart". Thanks to the big hole on the ozone layer which develops over New Zealand every summer we have to take care of our skin. A good sun block, sun hat and sun glasses are all essential items to carry with you. Water: A drink bottle is an essential item to take on nature tours. The water in our mountain streams is great to drink - we are still giardia-free. However a water bottle enables you to reduce dehydration and the problems that that can cause on a hot, sunny day. Toilets: The nature tours do have toilets at strategic places. Sometimes however you can be "caught short" while hiking. Care must be taken to ensure that all excrement is buried and is well away from water ways. ITINERARIES 1 Day Nature Tours Mountain Beech Forest Ecology: Travel over the Canterbury Plains, the largest area of flat land in New Zealand. Beneath the plain lies an immense thickness of gravel up to 1600 metres deep. The gravel is mainly sedimentary greywacke rock, eroded from the Southern Alps and deposited during the last ice ages. Rakaia Gorge Scenic Reserve. The Rakaia River is a braided river with a National Conservation Order. It is the breeding habitat of the rare wrybill plover - a bird with a bill which is bent sideways. Sharplin Falls Scenic Reserve. The top bush walk in Canterbury through mountain beech forest along Bowyers Stream to the hidden Sharplin Falls. Woolshed Creek Nature Trail to the Ancient Forest. This small enclave of silver beech is a remnant of a forest which was previously very extensive in Canterbury but was destroyed by early fires, probably by moa hunters. History & Geology Trail: First stop is the old coal mining settlement of Glentunnel. Visit historic, octagonal old library Staveley Geological and Historical Centre. Visit historic cottages and lime kilns at Staveley and Mt Somers. Mining history of Mt Somers. Return via Barrhill, a small historic settlement which was established in the 19th century as a self-contained, almost feudal village Birdwatching Safari: Rakaia Gorge Scenic Reserve - riverbed birds Sharplin Falls Scenic Reserve - forest birds Upper Ashburton River - habitat for wrybill, black fronted tern, black billed gull and banded dotterel. Lakes - Maori Lakes, Lakes Heron, Emma, Camp and Clearwater. Habitat for a wide range of wetland bird species including the endangered southern crested grebe High Country Wilderness: Cross the Rakaia River (over the longest road bridge in New Zealand) famous for its trout and salmon fishing. Head west along Thompson's Track, following the path of the early bullock wagons heading into the high country. Pass through Mt Somers township, once a railway and mining town, and on up the Ashburton Gorge. Visit an old quarryman's cottage. Visit Mt Potts and Erewhon Stations. Walk up the vast braided bed of the Rangitata River - a remote wilderness experience. Alpine Flowers: Optimum time for this tour is December - January. Mt Hutt Conservation Area. Wide variety of alpine plants including mountain daisies and buttercups, edelweis, eyebrights, unique scree plants and vegetable sheep Vehicle access - not much walking involved Mt Somers: Climb this 1687 metre ancient volcanic mountain. The return trip is 8 - 9 hours. Extensive views of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Arrowsmith Range, Erewhon. A good level of fitness is required 2 Day Nature Tours Day 1: Travel to Staveley via Glentunnel and Rakaia Gorge. Ashburton Gorge to Coalminers Flat picnic area. Woolshed Creek Nature Walk to Ancient Forest - a remnant of silver beech forest which survived early moa hunter fires. Mt Somers Walkway to Mt Somers Hut with spectacular views of the glaciated landscape of the Stour Valley, Lake Heron and the Arrowsmiths. Tri Falls track and Water Caves (time and fitness dependent) Day 2: Travel up the Ashburton Gorge to Lake Heron and the chance to see the endangered southern crested grebe. Lake Heron is a Wildlife Refuge and Nature Reserve. Upper Ashburton River - a braided river bed and habitat for the rare wrybill. Visit Lakes Emma, Camp and Clearwater. The Lost World of Erewhon, past the film location for the Lord of the Rings. Rangitata River - a vast and remote braided river with magnificent mountain scenery 3 Day Nature Tours Day 1 - Mountain Beech Forest & History: Rakaia Gorge Scenic Reserve. The Rakaia River is a braided river with a National Conservation Order. It is the breeding habitat of the rare wrybill - a bird with a bill which is bent sideways Staveley Historical & Geological Centre, historic Staveley lime kilns. Sharplin Falls Scenic Reserve. The top bush walk in Canterbury through mountain beech forest along Bowyers Stream to the hidden Sharplin Falls. Natural history slide show follows dinner in the Lodge Day 2: Travel up the Ashburton Gorge, past New Zealand's oldest continuously mined coal mine to the hidden upper Maori Lake. Lake Heron and the chance to see the endangered southern crested grebe. Lake Heron is a Wildlife Refuge and Nature Reserve. Upper Ashburton River - a braided river bed and habitat for the rare wrybill. Visit Lakes Emma and Camp and the Lake Clearwater Wildlife Refuge. The Lost World of Erewhon - the film location for the Lord of the Rings. Rangitata River - a vast and remote braided river with magnificent mountain scenery Astronomy (weather dependent) follows dinner Day 3 - Mt Somers Walkway: Woolshed Creek, Coalminers Flat and track to historic Blackburn coal mine. The track climbs to Trig R (altitude 934m) with views of the glaciated Stour Valley, Lake Heron and the Arrowsmiths. The track then drops down through subalpine scrub following a line above the spectacular canyon and slot gorge of Woolshed Creek. Views of bluffs of columnar jointing of rhyolite on Mt Somers. Lunch at Mt Somers Hut and then the Tri Falls Stream track - slot gorge, waterfalls - quite special, but requires a good level of fitness. If time permits the Hydroslide Stream and the Water Caves. Return via the Sidewinder Track and the Ancient Forest