Swan Lake & Tramping

Yesterday we took a drive to Lake Horowhenua in Levin. It was a very chilly day but sunny and beautiful. There were all kinds of wild ducks, geese, seagulls and even a flock or two of black swans! What a treat! Further down the lake we found a pair of black swans and four babies swimming around. Thanks God for the beauty of creation...I'm so honored to be soaking it all in.

We then drove to the other side of town to the end of Queen Street and took a drive through the back roads of the Tararua Range. Gladstone Road was unpaved, narrow and rocky but we found the North Trail Head to The Arapaepae Lookout Track and decided to go "tramping" today making sure we stayed well within our boundaries. :)

Our hike this afternoon was a success! It lasted three hours (there were many stops for pictures along the way) and we covered approximately eight kilometers. There is a mix of foliage in the mountains like pine trees, monster ferns, several kinds of flowers, shrubbery, and more! The landscape below is the city of Levin, with the ocean in the background, from the Arapeapea Lookout Point. You can also see Lake Horowhenua in the middle of the picture between town and the ocean.

The South Trail Head where we started

Spring has arrived in New Zealand!

Wish you were here! XOXOX