Friday 30th November

After breakfast we headed out for an all day expedition with our guide, Nicky. We drove up Arthur's Pass stopping to take three walks on the way. The first took us through Beech forest to a waterfall emptying into the Devil's Punchbowl. Later we pushed on higher and stopped for lunch by a mountain stream. The last walk took us through wonderful vegetation including giant buttercups to end at the top of the pass. After a brief rest back at the lodge we set out with Michael for an early evening walk. He took his two sheepdogs, Tess and Megan. Tess is getting on a bit while young Megan tried frantically by herself to surround a petrified looking flock of sheep. The walk took us to the river with its wide gravel bed, through forest and across fields. We saw how the vegetation had adapted to the various environments and to predators and pollinators. We also saw an amazingly rare grasshopper. Another good day concluded with a three course meal and a bottle of wine.