part 3 of the on-going series of local sunday excursions
a little project to build a portfolio of places for easy day-trips
we started 2 weeks ago with a re-visit to the stunning tunnel beach
last week it was a wander along the beach and lagoon at waikouaiti
cold, windy and a bit of rain - a typical winter's day but well enjoyed
today - a rare spring-like day with a warm sun, clear skies and no wind
okia reserve had been casually mentioned on a website promoting walks
sounded interesting and never-before-visited so an easy agreement reached
an always enjoyable drive along portobello road past the town and a right turn
onto weir road - gravel but smooth enough and up, over and down the hill we go
skirt gently around the pristine papanui inlet and then hang a left onto rivell road
sheep, ducks and geese seeming non-plussed about anther car of invading tourists
the road ends with a small car-park already near full - ah - a well known secret
a sign suggests a 90 minute round trip or 150 minutes with an added loop walk
easy so off we head with a lunch-loaded backpack and several jackets on each
stage one is a purpose built flat track straight across the wetland-now-farmland
the aptly named pyramids are the first stop - a pair of rocky bush covered hills
a sign suggesting an easy 10 minute walk up the smaller one for stunning views
never one to shun some vertical ascension so we hit the goat track up to the top
yep - stunning alright and a sign at the summit describing the peak's formation
the pyramid being hardened lava from volcanic activity 2 million years ago
kakadu comes to mind as we look out across wetlands in this ancient place
we can also see the ocean in the distance and hear rhe roar of victory beach
an easy descent and pushing on following a track and information signs
seems the area was cleared for farmland way back but now a reversal
native trees are being re-planted to hopefully restore the wetlands area
a mental note to revisit and watch progress as we head to the beach
the ups and downs of the track more pronounced until we hit the coast
jaws-drop as we stand atop a large sand dune with a pristine beach below
no choice but to take a free-fall scramble down the dune and onto the sand
omg - 100% pure - a long flat beach with cliffs and sea-mist at each end
silhouettes of other visitors at one end but we are alone here in paradise
nothing else to do but take a slow amble and enjoy the wonder of this place
large waves are crashing and a reminder of the source of the name of the beach
a/the s s victory ship-wrecked off the coast in the clearly wild seas out there
today the piles of wood and weed washed up on-shore confirm the danger
it's not quite hot enough today anyway so no chance of a tempting swim
we look out for the promise of sea-lions or a rare yellow-eyed penguin
nothing so we settle on a beached tree and enjoy a primitive lunch
tearing into a cooked chook and washed down with coconut water
then a gentle walk to the cliffs and a juvenile sea leopard is spotted
it's head and large eyes seen in the rocks equally checking us out
we scramble up the sand dune and follow a hint of a track back
some scrambling through the scrub required at times but no risk
the pyramids remain in sight so no danger of getting lost here
jackets are dispensed as we work up a sweat on this warm day
the loop track is then found and a re-trace of the path back out
back to the car to complete a 3 hour expedition in okia reserve
simply stunning - what a discovery - top of the hit-list already
drive out, back over the hill to the aptly named penguin cafe
a coffee enjoyed looking out over a sunny otago harbour - happy...
