LAKE MOERAKI
WILDERNESS LODGE-
RAINFOREST, CANOEING AND SEACOAST SEAL
AND PENGUIN ADVENTURES
|
Tasman
seacoast |
Lake
Moeraki Wilderness Lodge is a paradise
for nature lovers and for a relaxing
retreat away from the pressures of the
modern world.
On arrival
we give you maps and information on
our walk network, forest and seacoast
trails and canoeing.
WALKS NETWORK
Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge walks network covers 10km
(6 miles) and enables you to explore
the Lower Moeraki Valley and seacoast.
-
Lakeside Walk is an easy 20
minute return forest walk to the
outlet of Lake Moeraki with great
mountain views
-
Giant
Rimu Walk winds down the Moeraki
Valley above rapids to giant rimu
trees and a lovely Lodge lookout and
continues to the Moeraki lagoon
-
Monro
Beach Walk is an 80 minute
return walk through ancient
rainforest to wild and beautiful
Tasman sea where large penguins can
be ween August to December
-
Canoes (and lifejackets) are
provided for guests' use on the
lake, not downriver at any time
during your stay. You can canoe
right around scenic Lake Moeraki.
|
Tawaki
penguins (June to December)
|
At Lake
Moeraki Wilderness Lodge can do your
own thing - fish for brown trout,
canoe the gentle lake waters of walk
the network of Lodge and World
Heritage rainforest and coastal
tracks.
DAILY COMPLIMENTARY
SHORT GUIDED NATURE TRIPS
Every day, our naturalist guides offer
two guided activities each about an
hour long, included in the Lodge
tariff. You can learn about the
rainforests, discover ferns, orchids,
giant native pigeon, bellbird and tui.
We take night walks to see glowworms,
the Southern Cross and freshwater
crayfish. We have historical talks and
you can learn easy canoeing… and if
you fall out you can help us to feed
our giant tame eels! This programme
changes every day.
Short
trips include:-
Ancient Rainforest Trees, Tree Ferns
and Birds … a voyage of discovery
Freshwater
Life in the Wilderness Lodge
Rainforests … and feeding time for our
giant tame eels and trout
Easy
Canoeing in the Sheltered Inlets of
Lake Moeraki … in our safe, stable
minnow canoes
Living in
the Wilderness … in harmony with the
environment
Glowworms,
Morepork Owls, Freshwater Crayfish and
the Southern Cross … an after dinner
night walk
|
Elephant seal
|
LONGER OPTIONAL
GUIDED ADVENTURE TRIPS
Alternatively, every day, year-round
we offer guided wilderness adventure
programmes. Join a small group and
accompany our skilled nature guides.
On safe, well-planned adventures you
will get close to wildlife, learn
about the forest, experience amazing
scenery and friendly company. There is
a small charge for these trips (minimum 4
persons)
Wilderness Seacoast, Fiordland Crested
Penguin and New Zealand Fur Seals
Tramping Adventure
This is a dramatic and challenging wet
footed walk. It involves wildlife
viewing, scrambling over beach rocks
and along beaches and, at the end, a
400 foot steep hill climb.
Wilderness Seacoast, Hector's Dolphin,
Rainforest, Tree Fern and Gold miners
Walk
There is a huge variety on this walk;
a lovely seacoast rich in rock pools,
greenstone, Hector's dolphins (the
worlds smallest dolphin) and
occasionally New Zealand Fur Seals.
Magnificent rimu, beech and kahikatea
rainforest and a historic gold miner's
path that traverses fern filled river
gorges.
|
Easy canoeing
|
Lake
Moeraki Canoe Safari to Glacier Beach
and The Giant Rimu Trees
Our nature guides give you instruction
in our safe, stable, and small or
large canoes. We then paddle upriver
past tall rainforest to enter the
shallow wetlands of Lake Moeraki.
Ancient
Rainforest Guided Walk and Canoe
Safari to the Lower Moeraki River and
the Tasman Seacoast
Option A: Easy - Canoe the Moeraki
Lagoon Our nature guides take you
on a 30 minute walk down the valley
through giant rainforest trees, past
some historic cottages and across
freshwater springs and wetland moss
forest. At the Moeraki lagoon our
canoes and life jackets are waiting.
We paddle down river beneath the
forest and out into the Moeraki
lagoon.
Option B: Moderate - Hard - Canoe
the Moeraki Rapids
This trip is only suitable for people
who are fit/experience canoeists/good
swimmers. Although the rapids are
easy, trees in the river create some
objective hazard. Our nature guides
instruct you in down river canoeing in
front of the wilderness Lodge. We
practice navigation and procedures for
descent. We reach the Tasman beaches
and walk to the Tasman seacoast where
we enjoy refreshments and fossick for
gemstones, shells and driftwood and
look for Hector's dolphin, the world's
smallest.
The
Moeraki Mountains, Historic South
Westland Pack Track, Moeraki Rapids
and Blue Hut The Moeraki valley
was the last valley in South Westland
to be accessed by road in 1965. Prior
to this the only way south to Haast by
land followed a historic pack track at
the foot of the mountains. We drive 8
km up the valley to the start of this
walk. The track crosses a series of
small steams as the noise of the
Moeraki rapids grows louder. When we
reach these spectacular rapids, we
cross on a high swingbridge then walk
for 15 minutes to Blue Hut. We enjoy
lunch either at the hut with a roaring
fire and billy tea or beside a huge
pool in the Moeraki River.
TROUT FISHING
The lake and rivers have good numbers
of Brown Trout and in March & April
Quinnat Salmon. The lodge has basic
rods with lures but NO fly-fishing
equipment. Local guides can be
arranged with notice but please
check with us if fishing is to be the
focus of your stay at the lodge. You
cannot fish in front of the Lodge
where we have giant tame brown trout.
