Our last 36 hrs on the North Island in NZ!
Finally I have some more New Zealand photos for you! I’ll start with our next to our last night on the North Island. Lorraine and I hired a guide to take us to try and find a kiwi! Kiwi’s are nocturnal (very occasionally they can be seen in the daylight). Our guide John met us at 9pm… that is our normal bedtime! But we were very excited to go out with him and give it our best try. He picked us up in a Range Rover and gave each of us headlamps. He had us sit in the front and back seat on the passenger side, roll down our windows, and look out to the side with our headlamps on. He was driving us way out on dirt roads to areas where he has had good luck spotting some. So off we went! On and on we rode on those dirt roads with no luck. He then turned off the road to head through a field into some woods. The three of us could barely make out where the “trail” through the field was that would lead us to the woods. We finally found it and he drove along it until we came upon a fence. We then parked and he said - ready… let’s head out! So we climbed out of the vehicle and all of a sudden we heard owls hooting from every direction!!! The most widespread owl in NZ is known as the Morepork Owl - it is a smallish brown owl. It is called that because it sounds like…” more pork! more pork!” when it hoots! We could not see any of them - but to say there were lots is no exaggeration - it was amazing to hear so many! The sky was crystal clear with zillions of stars - it was gorgeous! John was in the lead, then Lorraine, then me as we made our way along a beautiful trail in a pine forest - it was truly stunning. As we were walking and listening to all of the owls John kept using his headlamp to see if he could spot any kiwi. No luck. We continued to walk down this path when all of a sudden we saw lots of tiny white lights to our left and right - Lorraine and I could not for the life of us figure out what we were seeing. John had us shut off our headlamps - they were sheep eyes - everywhere! John told us that often sheep will head to parts of forests to rest at night - it was amazing to be surrounded by eyes that lit up so brightly! Wow….
After the thrill of seeing the sheep eyes he asked us if we were ready to walk carefully down into a ravine and some steep wooden steps to try and see something other than a kiwi… Lorraine said - yes! So off we went…. carefully! I was carrying my big lens, camera and tripod - I knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t take it and I needed it. John was very kind and took turns with me carrying it. We slowly made our way down the steep steps into the ravine. At this point he told us to be very careful because we were actually going to walk through a tiny stream - so slippery rocks and stones were everywhere. We all helped each other and we made it just fine. Finally we got to the spot that John had wanted to find for us that had nothing to do with kiwis ….. Once we were all standing close to one another he told us to shut off our headlamps and let our eyes adjust to the darkness. In the blink of an eye we were surrounded by the most amazing sight - pin pricks of green light everywhere!!!! I did the best I could try and capture this otherworldly sight!! Thank goodness I lugged that equipment! I set up my camera, messed around (and guessed) with settings and took this shot!
These are glowworms!!! So here we are… deep in a ravine, standing in a tiny stream, listening to the chorus of more pork owls, zillions of stars above our heads and everywhere we look along the steep sides of the ravine are these bioluminescent glowworms! To this day we still can’t believe this experience.
John then asked me if I wanted him to shine a penlight on them so that I could take a shot to try and show you the strings of silk these glowworms produce. I of course said yes… the shot is not good but I hope it gives you some idea of what is actually hanging from each of these glowworms - miniscule strands of silk. Absolutely incredible!
After I was done taking these photos it was time to pack it up and head back up out of the ravine and find our way back to his vehicle. Lorraine and I were speechless - the experience was absolutely incredible and we never saw a kiwi… We know that John was disappointed at not finding a kiwi but we told him over and over - we know that we are not in a zoo and that our entire experience with him was out of this world. We arrived back at midnight feeling the most alive we have ever felt at midnight!
The next morning…
I had wandered around the previous two mornings exploring when I found a spectacular spot to be in for sunrise. Each morning clouds would form above the mountain tops and create such gorgeous contrasts of light and dark. To get to the particular point I wanted to be at for my last sunrise here I had to go through a few gates in various sheep fences and follow along the narrow sheep trail. I then found a gate that led down to a very steep path. I didn’t go far down the path for two reasons - 1) it was too steep to do it alone and 2) I only needed to go down a little ways to be able to look back up at the angle I was hoping for…. I found the spot I wanted almost right away! I was so hoping the cows would be out on the plateau as I had seen one of the other mornings… and they were! I set up as quickly as I could because I could see behind me that the sun was going to appear any second …. as soon as I set up I was able to capture this scene!
On my way back I just had to walk by where I was hoping some sheep would be… and they were there!
Lorraine and I went out with another guide for our last day. We first went on a walk with her through some forested area - it was beautiful! I caught the quick flash of a bird and was able to take this shot of the beautiful Silver Eye!
After our walk we hopped in her vehicle to head out for ride to a cove on one of the most southerly points of the North Island to see a Brown Fur Seal colony! It was a gorgeous ride and when we got there it was just the three of us and we could see lots of adult seals!! The sun was very high at this point in the day so I just did my best. These Brown Fur Seals are endemic to NZ. We scored by being there in January - the time when the little pups have just been born. We were so hoping that we would see a little pup!
The three of us set out along the huge rock outcroppings. We were warned to be very careful and to keep alert because the seals will spend time resting in the least likely spots - like in little caves within the rock outcroppings or under craggy bushes near the edge of the water. I set up low and kept scanning the area while Lorraine stood near me scanning the area to see if we could see any little ones… And then we spotted this young one coming out of a little cavelike area in the rocks!
And then another young one…
and another…
And to give you some idea of the adults…
I wish I was that flexible! :)
I then turned to my right to see this precious face…
At this point I have to say that it was very hot… the hottest we experienced on the trip - but we did not care! To literally be surrounded in front of us - 180 degrees with these expressive beautiful creatures was incredible! This face is just amazing… and look how deep that fur is…
And then I looked almost over my left shoulder to see this one…
Look at the nails in those front flippers!
And then the youngest one we had seen crept up almost in front of me! If you can look very closely in her eye you will see the reflection of Lorraine and our guide and one other person that came over to see who I was photographing …. I was so stunned that this one showed up seemingly out of nowhere and so close to me that I am thrilled I was able to get this shot off! To have Lorraine’s image reflected in the eye of a young Brown Fur Seal half way around the world is something I will cherish forever…
After this one disappeared down into the rocks as fast as it appeared… I stood up to give my aching back a break to see this young one over to my right…
After this shot I got back in my low position and just as I got set up… the most amazing thing happened… literally just below me this little head of a newborn appeared… it took my breath away … and thankfully Lorraine was close by and came over immediately to see this little miracle too…I hope you enjoy the following images of the gift of life without any further commentary from me…
The end….