Early morning on the dunes

I woke at 6am, grabbed my camera and headed back to the dunes while the others in the hut slept. We had been out walking until 11pm the night before but the kiwi hadn't found us. The wind had got up and another cold front was due to cross later on bringing more rain. We had intended to spend two nights at Mason Bay but made the call to travel to Freshwater Hut a day earlier to avoid any flooding on the track. So, my early morning jaunt was to watch the sun rise over the dunes - and maybe see a kiwi as well!

Mason Bay Hut hiding in the bush

Kiwi footprints in the dunes

Kiwi probe marks

 

Looking west with rain clouds out at sea

Wind patterns in the sand

Sun starting to rise over the dunes

More wind patterns

The rising sun lit up the dunes nearby for about 2 minutes before the
clouds moved in

View over the dunes to the Ernest Islands

I wandered amongst the dunes and came across large patches of Gunnera hamiltonii, the native gunnera - not to be confused with the Chilean pest plant, Gunnera tinctoria, that is on Environment Southland's eradication list.

Gunnera hamiltonii



Large patches of Gunnera hamiltonii

Amazing plants in an amazing place

I ended up at the Homestead for a cuppa with the DOC crew before heading back to the hut to pack for our 15km tramp to Freshwater Hut - flat going and with quite a lot of mud!