A DR SUESS WORLD
Catherine Groenestein checks out the community conservation project at Nowell’s Lakes.
Gnarly black koura ‘sunbathing’ in a creek and windswept cabbage trees lined up like a Dr Seuss drawing are among the sights on the path to see Nowell’s Lakes.
On a blue sky summer’s day, an ever present sea breeze threatened to steal my sunhat. It’s an easy walk – about 20 minutes if you go straight to the lakes, longer if you explore a bit.
This walkway and the planting that has transformed it from plain farmland, is a community conservation project involving hundreds of school children, service clubs and Fonterra, which gifted some of the land.
The walk begins at the end of Rifle Range Rd, off the road that leads to Fonterra’s Whareroa plant, just south of Ha¯ wera.
The walk begins along what looks like a farm track – but it’s soon obvious this area is for plants, wildlife and curious people, not cows.
Where many parks and public places boast one or two plaques or commemorative seats, this walkway is a patchwork of community group input, including children from primary schools around the South Taranaki District, the Rotary Club, Lions Club, Scouts, Forest and Bird and the South Taranaki District Council.
It crosses land formerly home to cows that was retired from farming in 2004. More than 12,000 trees have been planted by more than 800 children since then, and the work is ongoing.
Groups have planted their own areas, built sleeper steps and carved paths down into gullies. Signs point out various features, informative for school groups and passersby alike.
A huge bug motel beside the track offers invertebrate accommodation and a chance for youngsters to spy on them.
Bright patches of orange Californian poppies and other wildflowers are dotted alongside the track too. A sign promising a sighting of koura, or freshwater crayfish, points the way down rustic timber steps towards a creek, and a small bridge.
The sign suggested lifting the vegetation on the edge gently to spot the critters, but there’s no need – there are several of them in the clear water, although they quickly scuttle for cover.
Up the steepish path to the other side, we navigate a channel of renga renga lilies to a little lookout, where there’s a convenient seat.
Tall summery grass ripples in the breeze as we head down to rejoin the main path to the lakes.
The track is edged with curvy flax flower spires and other natives, in a backdrop of dry paddocks and glimpses of the sea.
A massive boxthorn hedge, a relic of the not-that-far-back South Taranaki past, lines the race on one side.
Pohutukawa, bright with new growth and crimson blooms, add a contemporary look on the other.
Stands of somewhat windblown cabbage trees line up in rows like scenes from a Dr Seuss story
At the lakes (water entrapped in these two landlocked pools is 100-plus years old, according to a helpful sign), there’s gorgeous views north towards the mountain, and even the Fonterra plant to the northeast looks kind of picturesque.
We ended our walk here and retraced our steps, but there is plenty more left for another visit.