Lion's Mane Jellyfish

Over the last couple of weeks, Tahuna Beach has seen lots of Lion's Mane Jellyfish washed up along the shore. These fascinating creatures are also known as the world's largest jellyfish and can be found in cooler waters around the coast of New Zealand.

The name Lion's Mane Jellyfish comes from the mass of long, yellowy-brown tentacles that look like the colour of a lion's mane.

They have a short life span of one year or less and during that time their colour changes. The younger jellyfish are a pale pink or yellow colour, then as they age they turn a deep reddish-brown.

These beautiful marine creatures are mostly made up of water - they have no brain, no bones, no heart, nor eyes. Although they don't have a brain they're able to function using sensory nerves. Their tentacles, which have tiny, toxic, stinging cells act as a net to capture and paralyse prey before eating them. Food is digested quickly and an opening found underneath their bell-shaped body acts as a mouth and is also used to discard waste.

Their diet consists of plankton, small crustaceans, fish, and other jellyfish. Due to their size, the larger jellyfish don't have many predators but the smaller ones can be eaten by large fish, sea turtles and sea birds. 

Lion's Mane Jellyfish don't purposely attack people, most stings happen when swimmers accidentally brush against them. Even those washed up onshore can sting, although the sting isn't fatal it can be painful. The recommended treatment if you get stung is to flush the area with seawater to rinse away any tentacles or stinging cells. Then apply heat, to permanently inactivate the venom. Others say dabbing vinegar onto the painful area will ease the stinging sensation.

Jellyfish can move short distances by contracting and relaxing a ring of muscles around their domed-shaped body or bell. The muscles open and close the bell, drawing in water and then expelling it, which pushes it forward. However, jellyfish are mainly controlled by water currents. As the jellyfish gets to the end of their lifespan they aren't as resilient and move to shallow waters to avoid the wild ocean currents. And because they're at the mercy of sea currents it's common to see them washed up on beaches.

Did you know a group of jellyfish is called a smack but when huge numbers of jellyfish appear suddenly it's called a bloom?

Affordable Real Estate - May Have the Odd Leak!

Traveling about and finding new beaches is one of my favourite past-times. Not only do the dogs love exploring new coastlines, but it also gives me an opportunity to hopefully come across a driftwood hut or tepee.

I'm fascinated with them!

Imagine the fun and hard work that would go into making a hut. The lean-to below was found on the shore of Lake Wanaka at Boundary Creek Camp. The lakeshore was smothered in driftwood of all shapes and sizes, which must have helped when making it. And wow - it had million-dollar views!

I love that these driftwood creations seem to be popping up everywhere. Once when I stopped at Kekerengu (north of Kaikoura), there were several driftwood tepees along the beachfront. It looked like a little tepee village.

Not so long ago, in 2016, some overseas tourists built a pretty impressive driftwood hut on Tahuna Beach. They used driftwood and shells collected from the beach and after about three days an amazing rustic cabin appeared. It attracted a lot of interest. Now, you probably won't believe this, but ... the Nelson City Council said it didn't meet council building requirements for a temporary structure, and taped it off, making it off-limits to the public! However, many locals complained, accusing the council of being PC crazy. Then less than 24 hours later, the council reconsidered their decision and the fence was removed. 

It was the tide that eventually took the hut away (just as the tourists who'd built it, had hoped it would).

Below are a few driftwood creations found on Rarangi Beach. They'd make great shelters on a windy day, although a little drafty, me thinks!  😏

Views over Cloudy Bay

Motorhoming With Pets in New Zealand

Six years ago, Bernie and I were planning to live on the road in our fifth wheeler we'd imported from the States. I was interested in chatting with others who were traveling with pets. And that's why in Dec 2015 I started the Facebook group 'Motorhoming with Pets in NZ'. By the end of the first day, 20 people had joined and that quickly climbed to 100 members by the second day. It was both exciting and reassuring knowing others were motorhoming/caravanning with their pets.

Fast forward to 2021... we now have over 8 thousand members! How cool is that! The group has exceeded my expectations. Whenever I've asked a question, whether it's been asking for suggestions on pet-friendly places to stay or advice on something motorhoming or pet-related, I've always been given lots of helpful replies.

I enjoy seeing photos that members share, reading about others' adventures on the road, and recommendations of places to visit that welcome pets. This friendly group has a wealth of information.

So, a massive thank you to all our members who contribute to making 'Motorhoming with Pets in New Zealand' the fabulous forum that it is. 

Worth the Wait!

The Hokitika Gorge has been on my ‘Must See’ list for a while. Last week, I was finally able to tick it off. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely!

Leaving Hokitika, on the 30-minute drive to the gorge, I wondered if being a cloudy day might affect the colour of the water. I'd read the river is a brilliant teal colour on sunny days and a milkier, less vivid blue on cloudy days. But, it turned out, I had nothing to worry about. Sunshine or clouds, the Hokitika Gorge is stunning in any weather.

 

Despite it being the school holidays there were lots of empty car parks. Maybe that was due to there being fewer overseas tourists due to covid. 

 

I walked a short distance through native bush before arriving at a viewing platform overlooking the gorge. This is the spot that I’d seen lots of photos taken from. So, just like others before me, I lifted my camera and clicked away.

Continuing along the track, curved boardwalks lead to the first swing bridge. 

The swing bridge offered breath-taking views of turquoise water flowing past the rocky sides of the gorge. The contrast of the bluey-green water, the pale rocks, and native bush was spectacular. I could have stood on the swing bridge for hours admiring the view but had to move on when people arrived to cross the bridge. 

If you're wondering how the water gets to be this colour, it's because of 'rock flour'. Rock flour is

tiny particles of rock caused by the grinding of bedrock when glaciers erode. Because it's so small (smaller than sand) it's suspended in the water making it a milky colour.

A little further along was another viewing platform, which is upstream of the bridge. Beside the platform are steps leading down to a rocky beach. There’s a gate to open before getting to the steps and signs warning people of the dangers of swimming in the gorge. The river is very cold, dangerous and swift and has taken lives.

Looking towards the first swingbridge.

Wikipedia states ... The Hokitika Gorge was ground out of granite by the Hokitika River. 

A quote I read recently that seems fitting is ...

'A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but its persistence.'

I continued walking further along the track, across more boardwalks, with glimpses of the river below. It wasn't long before I came to a second suspension bridge, recently built in 2020. At 90-metres long, it's one of New Zealand's longest suspension bridges (The Buller Gorge being the longest at 110 metres).  

 

To the right of the bridge, the foothills of the Southern Alps can be seen, while to the left is the view of the Hokitika Gorge.  

View from one side of the swingbridge - down the Hokitika Gorge.

Looking towards the foothills of the Southern Alps.

From the bridge, it’s an easy half-hour walk through native forest back to the car. I know two dogs that would have loved to have been with me on this walk, but it's DOC, so no dogs allowed.

Here's an interesting piece of information I found and copied from a DOC, Conservation Blog about moose being released at the Gorge in 1900.

Hokitika Gorge was the scene of the first release of moose in New Zealand in 1900 when fourteen moose calves were sent to New Zealand from Canada. Only four survived the journey and were released at the Gorge, adapting to the new conditions and diet under the watchful eye of a full-time minder. After a few weeks, the two bucks headed to the high country, while the two does took up residence in the lower reaches of the Gorge. According to legend, local farmer, Bert Cropp shot one of the moose after she made a nuisance of herself in the gardens around Kowhitirangi. Moose sightings were reported until 1914, and there is no evidence that they ever bred.

Known As One of the Most Beautiful Lakes in New Zealand.

Located about half an hour inland from Hokitika is Lake Kaniere, also known as one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand. Surrounded on three sides by mountains and native forest, this glacial lake is almost 200 metres deep in places! Can you imagine how big the eels would be in a lake that deep? 

Lake Kaniere Reserve offers several walks ranging in length and is popular for camping, mountain biking, bird-watching, swimming, water-skiing, jetboating, and other outdoor activities. 

 

The first walk I took was the 'Canoe Cove' walk. It's an easy track and easy to find. As you drive along the eastern side of the lake, it's the first walk on the right. The track goes through a rimu and kahikatea forest to a sheltered inlet. 

Near the start of the walk are a couple of boardwalks over shallow, tea-coloured water. There's wire mesh covering the boards to provide grip ... the walkways must get pretty slippery at times.

I find it so uplifting walking in the bush - It's as though a weight gets lifted from my shoulders. There's no traffic noise, no hustle and bustle, just a feeling of peacefulness. The only sound was bird song, the air was filled with an earthy fragrance, towering native trees filtered the sunlight, and all around, plant life was thriving. Bliss.

Nature's artwork

At the end of the track, was a small sandy beach that curves around to an inlet. The lake was full when I visited so there wasn't much room between the water and bush but I managed to skirt around the edges without getting my feet wet.

Across the water, I spotted a rope hanging from one of the branches over the lake. Oh my goodness wouldn't that be so much fun in summer? If you click on the photo below (to enlarge it) you'll see the rope to the left.

Although it's only a short walk, it took me much longer than the suggested 15 minutes each way. I stopped a lot! - to look at fungi, to poke spongy, mounds of moss, to take photos, and to soak in all the beauty around me.

Bracket Fungi

Koru - the beginning of life

Back at the car, my car-key decided to play up! It's one of those remote thingies, where you press a button to open and lock the car. Before I had even pressed any button, the car started to unlock and lock itself over and over again. Luckily there was a 'normal' key inside the remote which I used to get into the car, but even inside the car, the door continued locking and unlocking repeatedly. In the end, I pulled the battery out and all was good.

After that wee predicament, I continued along the road to Hans Bay, which is a small settlement of about 50 houses. Most of the houses are holiday homes with views across the lake. 

Between the road and lake is a grassy area, the perfect place for a picnic and it's here that you'll find the boat ramp and a jetty for those who want to try their luck fishing. 

Also at Hans Bay is a DOC campground that's big enough for larger motorhomes/caravans, plus it has lakeside views. Unfortunately 'No Dogs' are permitted. 

Leaving Hans Bay and continuing eastwards along the lake's edge, the road changes to gravel. It's well maintained, although a little narrow at times. A few kilometres further up the road are the Dorothy Falls.

Dorothy Falls can easily be seen from the road - once over a little bridge, there's an area to park. It's a very short one-minute walk to the bottom of the falls, it'd be an ideal spot to cool off on hot summer days.

After taking a few photos, I jumped in the car and drove back the way I'd come. There's a fork in the road at the northern end of the lake. The road to the left travels along the western side of the lake, while the right turn leads to Hokitika. I decided to have a look along the west side of the lake. The road is called Sunny Bight Road and is about a kilometre long - it leads to the Sunny Bight picnic area which has views across the lake.

The next time I visit Lake Kaniere, I'll try to get there early morning, before there's any breeze. I'd love to see the reflections on a calm day. 

A sign from the rest area indicated that a short distance along the road was the beginning of the Lake Kaniere Walkway. It's a four-hour walk around the western shore of the lake, which ends at the southern end of Lake Kaniere on Dorothy Falls Road. I'll do that walk another time.

The road leading to Lake Kaniere Walkway.

Feeling recharged and rested, and with a camera full of photos, I headed back to Bernie and our two 4-legged kids.

Getting Smaller ...

You've probably noticed from the header photo that the campervan I bought is a little Mitzi L300. She's all of 5 metres long, so can fit into a supermarket carpark - bonus!

The camper was advertised locally on Trademe. The interior desperately needed a make-over and the asking price reflected that. The wallpaper was black and the interior surfaces were roughly painted a dark grey colour. It needed a lot of TLC. We decided it would be a good project for us over winter.

Little did we know, we had a few surprises in store. First, we discovered a leak under the rear window so the entire wall had to be removed. Luckily Bernie is a handyman.

And then we discovered that the awning must have been left out at some stage and been hit by wind. After Bernie removed the awning, this is what we found underneath! 

It was more than Bernie could repair so 'Nelson Motor Homes' covered the three holes with fibreglass. 

After a week the wee camper was fixed. They did a great job!  

And, then there were hours and hours of sanding. Every door was removed, sanded, painted with 3 coats and put back with new hinges and handles.

We got a quote from an upholster to get new foam squabs and have them covered. The quote was much more than we'd budgeted for, so we decided to have a go at doing it ourselves. We were spoilt for choice on the upholstery colours at Spotlight. In the end, we went with a speckled grey.

The curtains were also replaced. I've never made curtains before but thanks to watching a few YouTube tutorials and a few errors along the way, I'm happy with the result.

We added a new benchtop and a new gas stove. Bernie removed the sink so I could give it a good clean. And clean it I did! I used so many different products and kept scrubbing until it looked like a new one.

For finishing touchs, we added a new black tap and black light fittings. Plus, painted the front of the fridge with blackboard paint so our wee granddaughter could draw pictures on it with chalk. 

Ready for adventures!

Even Awah, our cat is keen!