Spring is a magical time to be in Nature.
Spring is coming to Aotearoa/New Zealand, and with it the opening of the Great Walks season.
We say that the best time to hike the Great Walks is the time that suits you – and that’s true but getting out there early in the season brings its own rewards.
The Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks can be covered in snow over winter, and the tracks need time to thaw out which is why, at Ultimate Hikes we don’t start our hiking season until 1st November.
That first month and early December is a great time to walk – A quiet oasis leading up to the rush of Christmas holidays, the tracks are in the fabulous flush of spring flowers, new growth and crisp days to enjoy it all.
The alpine landscapes – on the zig zags up to Omanui/McKinnon Pass on the Milford Track, and much of the Routeburn Track, start to bloom. A highlight of the floral calendar, the Mount Cook Lily (Ranunculus lyalli), blooms in late Spring. It has lily pad like leaves which is likely why it was originally classified as one, but it is actually the world’s largest buttercup. So perhaps we should call it the Mountain Buttercup given it’s found in many alpine environments as well as Aoraki/Mt Cook. Mountain daisies also spread over the alpine passes at this time of year.
A special favourite of ours is the Tree Fuchsia, found lower down in the beech forests. Tree Fuchsia (Kotukutuku) like the buttercup is the largest member of the Fuchsia family. It has small pink hanging flowers and papery bark. When in flower it is common to see Tui, Waxeye, Bellbird and Kaka feeding on the flowers or peeling the bark to look for insects.
Another special treat is hearing, and even seeing the Long Tailed Cuckoo. Cuckoos return to New Zealand in early October, and adults return to the same site year after year to breed. They migrate from January to winter in the tropical Pacific.
Another bonus of walking early in the season, there is usually some snow still left on the tops of the neighbouring mountains that give them an icecream topping – especially Mt Balloon on the Milford Track and the Darran Ranges across from the Hollyford face on the Routeburn Track. The waterfalls also benefit from snow melt and come alive in the early season even without rain.
