Kaniere Scenic Reserve a Beautiful West Coast Lake
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Kaniere Scenic Reserve A beautiful West Coast lake WHOSE ROHE? Ngäi Tahu is the iwi, Käti Waewae are the hapü. Contact Käti Waewae Rünaka for further information. Surrounded by luxuriant bush, Lake Kaniere is often described as one of the most beautiful lakes in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It is 8 km long, 2 km wide and as deep as 195m in some places. There are walks for all abilities and opportunities for a number of water sports. WHATS IN A NAME? The name is linked to the pounamu (greenstone) history of the area. The mountain Tühua overlooks Lake Kaniere on one side and the major Arahura River pounamu source. Kaniere refers to the act of sawing pounamu. Kani means saw and ere refers to the action of sawing. SPECIAL FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR Protect plants and animals The giant kahikatea (white pine) trees on the Kahikatea Walk Remove rubbish Tühua the mountain Bury toilet waste Dorothy Falls/Kokore Keep streams and lakes clean Giant moss at the start of the Canoe Cove walk it looks like mini- ature pine trees Take care with fires Camp carefully Keep to the track WALKS Consider others Respect our cultural heritage Canoe Cove Walk Enjoy your visit (Easy, 15 min one way) This track takes you through a rimu and kahikatea forest to a sheltered Toitu te whenua ( Leave the land undisturbed ) sandy beach: a great spot for a picnic or a swim. The track is at the 45 north end of the lake and 1 km from the Landing along Lake Kaniere Road. There is some parking at the start. Dorothy Falls and Beach Walk (Easy, 2 min and 5 min) Have a look at this waterfall. It is signposted from the road as you drive down the east side of lake. On the opposite side of the road is a short track that will take you down to the lake. Kahikatea Forest Walk (Easy, 10 min loop) This walk follows the Sunny Bight Creek and passes through virgin kahikatea forest and over a flax swamp. The track starts at the Sunny Bight picnic area at the north end of the lake. Lake Kaniere Walkway (from Kaniere Lodge to Lawyers Delight Hut) (Moderate, 1 hour one way) If your group is feeling more adventurous and is suitably equipped, then you might like to walk through lush bush to Lawyers Delight Hut. There is a lookout point part way along the track with a fantastic view down the lake. At Lawyers Delight you can leave the track and spend some time on the beach before returning. Be careful of slippery rocks on the track and be prepared for a good climb on your return journey. The track starts from the road, just south of Kaniere Lodge. LONGER WALKS If your group is ready for a longer walk, you could try the Lake Kaniere Walkway or the Kaniere Water Race Walkway. Both of these walks are one way so you would need to organise transport to drop you off and pick you up. Take appropriate clothing and check the weather forecast before you leave. Lake Kaniere Walkway (Moderate, 4 hours one way with no stops) This track follows the western shores of the lake passing through lakeside forest, over streams and next to beaches. You can start either at the southern end of the lake, near Lake Kaniere Lodge or at the northern end at Sunny Bight. Lake Kaniere Water Race Walkway (Moderate, 1 hour or 4 hours one way) If your group is interested in the history of the area, you could walk along some or all of the historic power station water race. The track starts at the Landing at the northern end of the lake. You can then walk to Ward Road (for an hour) or continue to the end of the track (4 hours). 46 BE PREPARED RISK ASSESSMENTS See our activity Be Prepared in "Using this Resource". In addition to the general risks outlined, you need to consider: water risks around the lake and the rivers, especially if you undertake any water sports, or our suggested activity in Geologists Creek; slips and falls on some of the tracks if students do not watch where they are going; traffic in carpark areas around the start of tracks, especially at the start of Canoe Cove Walk; and washing your hands after the minibeast hunt or stream dip activities. Dont forget to include hazards at the lodge if you are staying overnight. ATTRACTIONS AND FACILITIES Interpretation Panels Lodge CONTACT If you would like a DOC officer to accompany your group for some of your visit, please contact the Community Relations Officer at the Hokitika Area Office a few weeks before your trip on: 03 755 8301. OTHER EXCITING THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE AREA Hire kayaks to explore the edges of the lake Visit the West Coast Historical Museum in Hokitika Visit Water World in Hokitika Visit the Kiwi House in Hokitika ACCOMMODATION Accommodation is available for schools at Kaniere Lodge, which is owned by the Kaniere Lodge Trust and can sleep up to 40. Facilities include a fully equipped kitchen, showers, a drying room, and a large dining area/common room. You can make a booking through Westland High School and the number is: 03 755 6169. 47 More Information RESOURCE MATERIAL Community Relations DOC Walks Fact Sheets from the Hokitika Office or in the Resource Ranger Box. Department of Kaniere Super Site Resource Box available to borrow from the Conservation Hokitika Office or the Teacher Resource Centre in Greymouth. This Te Papa Atawhai contains books for identifying trees and insects, magnifying glasses, Hokitika Area Office Private Bag 701 bug pots, and DOC Walks information. HOKITIKA The Tattooed Land by Barry Brailsford (1997) Stoneprint Press p.200- Ph: 03 755 8301 201 Fax: 03 755 8425 Greenstone Trails by Barry Brailsford (1996) Stoneprint Press p.129- 133 Nets for sampling invertebrate life in Geologists Creek are available for borrowing from the DOC Hokitika Area Office. HOW TO GET THERE From Hokitika, head east 19 km along the Lake Kaniere Road. At Kaniere, take the left branch of the Y intersection. This road meets the lake at the Landing. The road forks at this point, the right road heads to Sunny Bight and the other is the Dorothy Falls Road, which takes you around the east side of the lake past Hans Bay. The access road around the lake is metalled, narrow and care is required. The best approach for a bus is via Kokatahi. Kokatahi is signposted from Kaniere Township. When you reach Kokatahi, follow the signs to Lake Kaniere. 48 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT KANIERE THE CURRICULUM The tracks and environmental issues at Lake Kaniere present a range of learning experiences for Ss to achieve curriculum objectives. By using and adapting our suggested activities and incorporating the curriculum objectives below, you could develop a trip around the following general aim: Aim: Ss will have an understanding and appreciation of the Lake Kaniere environment and the different ways in which people use and relate to this environment. Social Studies Focusing your trip on one or more of the environmental issues described below can develop the essential skills of inquiry, values exploration and social decision making. It is also in the aims of environmental education to develop these skills. Take the example of weeds. Ss would first need to identify the problem by listing why weeds are a problem, where they are, and where they come from. In terms of values exploration, Ss could examine how different groups e.g. farmers, Ngäi Tahu, bach owners, boaties, and DOC might have different opinions about the weed problem. Ss could also examine their own thoughts and feelings. Many Ss will not have considered the weed threat before. With regard to social decision making, Ss would need to come up with a range of possible solutions and consider the impacts of these solutions on the different groups. For more examples of environmental issues see below. For SO L2:1 & L3:1, Ss could explore how participation in groups, e.g. being a bach owner, a boatie or a farmer involves rights and responsibilities and how and why people make and implement rules and laws for managing settlements, scenic reserves and farming. In P&E at all levels, Ss could examine how peoples activities influence the Lake Kaniere environment and vice versa, or how different groups, e.g. tourists, DOC, recreational groups, bach owners, and Poutini Ngäi Tahu currently view and use the lake, and how it has been used in the past. 49 In R&EA L4:1, Ss could examine how and why people use resources differently and the consequences of this. The obvious example at Lake Kaniere is how different groups use the lake. The lake is used for recreation, tourism, a water supply, a power supply, and part of the area is also a nohoanga site for Ngäi Tahu. Health and Physical Education See our activity Be Prepared in "Using this Resource". Technology Under TC at all levels, Ss could develop technological solutions to some of the environmental problems at Kaniere. For example, they could design a trap for catching possums or stoats. Ss will achieve T&S objectives L2:1, L3:1,2 & L4:2 by considering various future scenarios for Lake Kaniere. For instance, raising the level of the lake again, converting farmland to dairy and the implications of effluent run-off into the lake and rivers, or the building of a water wheel on Dorothy Falls! Science For LW objectives, groups could compare the vegetation on the Kahikatea Walk and the Canoe Cove Walk.