HAPEKA HOMESTAYS

PITT ISLAND

Pitt Island has an abundance of birdlife, and your hostess, Judy, can take you to a particularly interesting predator proof reserve for a one hour stroll aound. It took me longer as I was on a photography mission at the same time! Here there are a number of birds that you will see nowhere else in the world. For example even the tui is a subspecies of the NZ one and is bigger with quite a different call. As well as the fauna, the flora is also interesting. Judy can tell you all about that also - I was fascinated, and need to return.

BIRD SPOTTING

A wide range of activities are available, and what Dorse and Judy can't do, they can arrange for someone else to do that with you. I am going to elaborate on a few here only, but if you want to explore the islands landscape, scramble down into a shelter bay and prise paua from their rocks, go fishing off the rocks, help out on the farm, climb to the highest point on the island and espy the albatross chick and check out the amazing sculpture up there, head off to Glory (and return), learn how to cook your seafood, wander the lengths of deserted beaches or just sit around in the evening and play scrabble with Judy (she has a good scrabble dictionary so you don't need to bring yours!) In other words, it's up to you to let them know what your interests are and you can go from there. Scroll down the page to see some more details of trips I did while there.

Judy and Dorse Lanauze, North Head Farm, Pitt Island, via Chatham Island, New Zealand.  north.head.farm@xtra.co.nz   ph (64) 3 3050303

Now, the climb up Mt Hakepa (213 metres) is a real once in a lifetime experience. It's an amazing old volcano riddled with deep gas vents but it is also an awesome vantage point from which to view the island from all sides. Don't forget to take your camera up because you could also see (at close quarters) the new season's wandering albatross chick. They are incredibly big!

Another fascinating and unexpected sight you will see is a brilliant group of four bronzes sculptures fastened to rock on a precipice atop Hakepa as well as another close by. You might well be asking why they are in such an inaccessible place. Well, they are in fact the work of the German sculptor Woytek, who made them for the millenium. It was here on Hakepa that the suns rays first touches inhabited land.

Both Pitt and Chatham Islands have seen many ships wrecked around their coastlines. The Glory, a small brigantine was wrecked in what became known as Glory Bay in 1827. 

Now, when I tell you about the road to "Glory" and back, you will know what I'm talking about!

This is a very interesting excursion and covers some intersting terrain before coming down into the glorious bay.

Here you can see some old European relics as well as enjoy the expanse of beach. You might even get to share a kina or two -  if you like them! I did have a wee taste!