Overview
Sun Aug 23
A glorious day. At 9 am Stanley Hodson came up + we set out for “The Heights” basin on Arapaepae ridge above Shannon. Rode as far as Mr Lewis’ house on Ihakara’s
[new page]
Reserve + walked thence to the big Arapaepae No 3 via the spur above Buckley Road taking altitude as we went along. From A3 we descended into the valley of the pirate branch of the Otauru Stream + had lunch at the outlet of the pirate gorge. Took a photo of the ridge thro’ which the gorge has been cut, showing the pirate stream in the foreground. Commenced ascent of the gorge at 12.28 pm. Innumerable cascades up to five feet high – huge boulders of blocks + rock – took a photo of these – waterfall 15 ft high – another 20 ft high. Above this the grade of stream-bed became easier. Reached top of gorge, where there is another fall, 18 ft, at 1.30 pm. Took two photos of gorge from above but the light was not good on acc[ount] of clouds. Returned to Ihakara’s Reserve via A3, + Buckley Road. Drove to church in the evening.