St James Tarn

If you enjoy alpine scenery, alpine walks and alpine vegetation, I recommend stopping at St James Tarn (along Lewis Pass Highway). Only a few metres from the carpark, lies a picturesque tarn and on a still-day you'll be rewarded with reflections. 

The photo below was taken a few years ago when I stopped for the dogs to have a stretch. Luckily, there wasn't a breath of wind and the small mountain lake was just like a mirror.

However, when I stopped this time, a slight breeze caused a ruffle over the water, however with or without reflections, it was beautiful.

I decided to walk the 20 minute loop track, which starts at the beginning of the St James Walkway. The track is well maintained and the board walks are covered in netting as a necessary safety precaution when they're covered with ice and snow.

The loop track, also known as the Alpine Nature Walk winds through an alpine wetland with views of Gloriana Peak and the Spenser Mountains.

It amazes me how anything can survive in such harsh conditions; bone dry in summer, ice-cold in winter, battered by wind, and if that's not challenging enough they're somehow able to grow in nutrient-depeleted soil. 

There were lots of varieties of plants; different kinds of grass, flowers (which mostly seemed to be small and white), assortments of mosses, flaxes, intriguing-looking lichen, native hebes, etc. I'm not sure of the correct names for the plants but one day I'll download a phone app that  identifies plants.

It was an easy walk and one that took longer than the estimated 20 minutes because I stopped so many times to look and touch different plants. Some of the flax leaves looked woolly and felt soft and furry. There were mounds of lichen that looked like clumps of coral and felt brittle and delicate to touch.  

Even on a calm day, some of the trees had a wind-swept look with lichen hanging from their branches.

Maybe when I stop here again, I'll have more time - it would be nice to walk further along the St James Walkway. Apparently the entire walk is 66kms and usually takes between three to five days, with huts along the way. It's suitable for all ages and abilities, so I may get an opportunity in the future, to see what overnight tramping is like.

Being a scorcher of a day, with no wind, it was a treat getting into the car and blasting the air-conditioning! 

St James Tarn - Lewis Pass

A day without any wind is ideal to capture St James tarn's mirror like reflections.
You might be wondering...what is a tarn? 
Without getting too technical, Google says 'A tarn is a mountain lake or pool, especially one in a cirque. A cirque is a half open steep sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion. Tarns are usually smaller than lakes.

The St James Tarn is only a minute's walk from the carpark along Lewis Pass. On a day without wind the reflections really are breath-taking.

A viewing deck provides an outlook across the entire tarn with a mountain backdrop.

On the carpark side of the tarn a track leads across a boardwalk which after a short walk loops back on itself.

Long lichen smothering and dripping from trees created an enchanting area at the end of the tarn.

Through Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs

Being newbies to this way of living, we'd mapped out our journey for the first month. However we realised after a rainy day in the rig that sunny weather was easier for us and the dogs. Unfortunately the path we'd so carefully planned had a weather forecast of rain- so we decided to take another route.

It looked like Canterbury was the driest place to be. So we postponed our visit to Reefton and headed to Hanmer Springs instead.

It must of taken about an hour to pack up. I took care of the inside, while Bernie looked after the outside. Then we both did a final check, checking everything was closed and put away securely. That done, Bernie went to the dump station and when he told me there was nothing I could help with (yay), I went on ahead.

I stopped south of Springs Junction to give the dogs a walk. It was threatening to rain but luckily it held off.

Further down the road was the St James walkway. From the carpark there's a 20 minute loop track through an alpine wetland with views of Gloriana Peak and the Spencer Mountains. 

And only a minute's walk from the car is a tarn. Unfortunately there was a slight breeze so I wasn't able to photograph perfect reflections in the water. But it was such a stunning spot.

I just loved the scenery - the orange and red moss. The pale creamy lichen dripping from trees.

As you can see I couldn't stop clicking away from all angles. It was just beautiful.

I just happened to be walking back to the car at the same time Bernie drove past. It was a mad dash to try and get the camera focussed to capture him.

And one last stop as we got nearer to Hanmer. 

The dogs weren't too keen on running through the matagouri - I don't blame them, those spines are vicious.

As we got closer to the Hanmer turn off, the sun appeared. The dogs enjoyed the view as we drove across The Waiau Ferry Bridge.

From the colour of the Waiau River there'd been some recent rain.

The NZMCA park is the first turn on the right after The Hanmer Bridge. It's a lovely spot, with lots of room and the park is fringed with lush, green, willow trees. 

When I arrived Bernie had found a spot to park but as we started to level the rig, the legs had to extend past their length, so we found another spot.

To the right of the rig are clusters of blue grape hyacinths and some orange California Spring Wildflowers.

Another great NZMCA park for only $3 a night/person, max of 3 nights.