Mon, 23rd Mar, 2026 Geoff & Virginia’s place, Taramakau Settlement, NZ (Otira Gorge, Arthur’s Pass & waterfall hike)

12 degrees and foggy. When the sun broke through the sky started to clear.

Washed our sheets and towels and then my hair - nice to have a big shower to use and lovely tank water.

The fog is still hanging around as we headed off to explore with Geoff & Virginia in their car. They brought their car and van back across from Australia after their 8 years exploring but haven’t needed the use of the van over here but it makes a good spare room.

Back over the Taramakau River. Virginina said it was known as a braided river. Years ago the people around here got a wall built to stop the river ‘meandering’ into their paddocks. Along the edge of the river to head to Arthur’s Pass. You can do a train trip from Christchurch to Greymouth return but we are having the local guided tour by our friends instead. I forgot to take my diary so had to remember what I took photos of. Turned away from Taramakau River and headed towards Otira. Nice views as we travelled along. Old church as we enter the area of Otira where there is a very ‘interesting’ pub - the Otira Stagecoach Hotel (1865).

Into Otira Gorge. Alongside a little stream that is the Otira River. Under a rock-fall protection shelter.

The next one also directs water from the mountain side over the edge.

Onto the viaduct. They are always battling rock slides along here.

Turned off to the lookout. View south through the pass.

View back over the viaduct.

Zoomed down on the Otira River (I think) below.

Continued on - fantastic views. Into Arthur’s Pass township. It was named after 19^th century surveyor and explore Arthur Dudley Dobson. In 1864 he explored the area and mapped the route after a West Coast Maori chief, Tarapuhi, told him about an ancient trail through the Southern Alps. Great map. View along the railway line.

We continued on southward. A big coal train passed us.

Pulled into the picnic area at Klondike Corner for lunch that Virginia had prepared this morning. Unfortunately the big sandflies were loving it in the shelter so we stood outside to eat.

Continued on to park near the Bealey Bridge over the Waimakariri River and stopped for some more photos. Snow on the mountains.

Headed back to Arthur’s Pass. Through the village then turned off to walk to Devils Punchbowl Waterfall (131m drop). At least they say there are steps on this one.

A bit of history as we walk along the edge of the Bealey River.

Info about the falls we are heading too. Zoomed in on it.

Across the suspension bridge over the Bealey River.

Info about Arthur Dobson half way over the bridge.

Our wonderful friends, Virginia & Geoff, with the waterfall in the background and Steve. They haven’t walked to these falls either.

Now for the stairs! But wait there are a few more!

At last we head down to the base of the falls.

View through a gap in the trees.

And down some more - that means we have to come back up them!

Man, they just keep going. Then we had to go up again.

Last bit on rocks then the reward for the walk. A beautiful waterfall.

The water flows down to the Beasley River.

View around the mountain.

Zoomed in on the falls.

The wind has picked up taking the spray from the waterfall with it.

Now for the walk back. Down the stairs, up the stairs.

Don’t think we will do this walk - very ‘natural’ by the looks of the climb up to it.

Now the long downward section.

Back to the suspension bridge - we will all know where our calf muscles are tonight! View across to other side.

Back to the car and headed back through the pass. Spotted Arthur Dobson’s Memorial at 920m elevation.

Stopped at another lookout. View of the rock protection thing we drove under before.

Landslides everywhere.

Back to the Taramakau River then a detour around to Lake Brunner. Rough gravel road which has recently been used for a Targa car rally.

Pulled over to check out a new information board about the Inchbonnie Airfield made in 1934 by pick and shovel.

Continued on to Lake Brunner - big lake.

Pulled up at a boat ramp. Township of Moana is across the other side.

A chap walked out from the boardwalk with his fly fishing rod so we got chatting. He saw a few trout but he just likes the solitude etc.

Turns out Geoff & Virginia know Brian from when they are whitebaiting along the Taramakau River. Very interesting chap with lots of stories about the area. He said he climbed up that mountain as a 10 year old to bring down his father’s sheep. He said it was great fun. When he was a young man he would climb the other mountain chasing deer. There is an ‘elite’ mountain resort here now but back in the day it was a pub and he has many fond memories of going there. He shot his biggest deer near there. Geoff knows a chap that would dive out of a helicopter to catch the deer live to use as breeding stock - crazy.

Chatted about whitebaiting for a while - they have to pay a yearly fee for their ‘stand’, a wood structure that goes out into the river to hang their nets off etc. They have to build their stand each year and dismantle it at the end of the season before the rivers food. You get a GPS mark to say you can make your ‘stand’ at that point. One year they got 80kg of whitebait. Virginia said she would cook us some. 

A weka wandered by.

Continued along the gravel road to the main road then back across the river as we headed back to their place. Perfect day for exploring - many thanks to our guides.

Drinks outside in the lovely afternoon sunshine.

Another delicious dinner - locally grown and slaughtered lamp and home-grown pumpkin. Lot of chatting too.

12 degrees when we went back to the camper under a clear star-studded sky.