Hiking in Pararoa National Park

After a stormy night the day began mild. Thus I chanced it and made my way to Pararoa National Park. In the visitor centre they assured me that the Pororari River Track was safe to go on, and so I donned my trusty hiking boots and started on the trail. It follows the river upstream and continuously becomes more narrow, rockier, and steeper. Most of the time I walked under a lush, green canopy, twice I ducked under giant roots. Finally I got to see some wildlife up close: a pair of Paradise ducks on the sandy river shore and a weka, a brown flightless indigenous bird. According to the New Zealand Department of conservation, it is “famously feisty” and has a “curious personality”. The one I met was obviously displeased that I dared walk on the same path as it did.

About halfway on the trail loop there was a swingbridge that lead across the river. At the very moment I got there, it started raining. Heavily. I quickly took cover under a fern tree, stowed my camera in the backpack, pulled the rain slip over it, put it back on, and started on my way back. After a few steps I realized that I hadn’t even stepped onto the bridge. I was going to get wet anyway, so why not enjoy the view from the bridge after all?

It took me a bit more than an hour to get back to the carpark. Luckily I had my spare dry kit in the car, into which I then quickly changed and made my way back to the park visitor centre. It is located directly across from the entrance to the walkway to the Pancake Rocks.

Pancake Rocks and Blowholes

There was a bit of time before high tide – which is when the spectacle of the Pancake Rocks is the most impressive. Time for some hot tea and a warm date scone, yummy!