Mason Bay

Summer arrived today after weeks of rain, gales and wintry weather that has tourists and locals hankering for some sunshine; just as well my friends from New Plymouth are hardy souls as the weather disrupted their visit from the start. Our Coast to Coast flight to Mason Bay on Saturday 15 November was postponed when gale-force westerlies swept through. Sweet talking to the weather gods by Stewart Island Flights resulted in a calm beach landing at low tide on Monday afternoon instead. A short tramp to the DOC hut where we dropped our packs and then off to explore the dunes whilst the calm and dry weather held.

Low tide mudflats on Paterson Inlet at the entrance to Freshwater River

Freshwater River snaking towards the west coast

Mason Bay Homestead with Big Sandhill behind

Mason Bay view north - Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) is at top left

Beach landing Mason Bay 17 November 2014

Track outside Mason Bay Hut

DOC's Mason Bay Hut - 20 bunk backcountry hut, $5 per person per night

Jen and I tramped to Mason Bay in October 2012 and struck westerly gales and winter temperatures; our attempt to climb Big Sandhill (156m) was thwarted when we were unable to stand up nearer the top so it was strange walking up there late afternoon this time without even a slight breeze. A dotterel with 3 chicks alarmed as we walked over the dunes so gave them a wide berth.

Big Sandhill from Mason Bay Hut

Mason Bay dunes looking southwest to the Ernest Islands

Fab sand formations created by the wind and rain

Native pīngao/pīkao, golden sand sedge, Ficinia spiralis, found on active
sand dunes and endemic to New Zealand

Spot the trampers heading toward Big Sandhill

Follow the footprints - almost at the top

Interesting rocks along the way - this is a big chunk of white marble

Looking from Big Sandhill down to the sea - Ernest Islands are top left, Whenua Hou at top right

Summit pole on Big Sandhill

We knew that there was a track heading from Big Sandhill to the Mason Bay Homestead (ringed at right) so followed our noses until we found it. We chose the left turn at the junction which took us along a rat line back to the DOC hut (ringed at left). There were lots of interesting plants on the dunes and track, including some magnificent clumps of Earina mucronata, bamboo orchid. I'll have to get my books out to identify most of these dune plants - remind me if I forget to do it!

A magnificent clump of bamboo orchid

Close-up of bamboo orchid flower

I could spend weeks exploring Mason Bay; amazing how the plants adapt to the challenging conditions of the windswept dunes. We saw kiwi prints and probe marks in several places and had our fingers crossed that the kiwi would find us that evening. More in the next blog...