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!