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 The
75th Airline Anniversary Haast - 18th & 19th December
2009
Captain J.C. ‘Bert’
Mercer landing his de Havilland biplanes on the isolated
beaches of South Westland in the 1930s.Mercer’s Air
Travel (NZ) Ltd airline not
only pioneered scheduled services and New Zealand’s
fi rst regular airmail, but
introduced a versatile range of tourist alpine flying, freight
and air-ambulance
work that all proved the relevance of aviation for ordinary
Kiwis.
National celebrations at Hokitika on 17/18 December and
Haast on 18/19
December will mark this important transport and social milestone.
Vintage
de Havillands and many other aircraft will congregate from
around New
Zealand for an event of international significance. For
the first time in NZ skies
since the 1940s three historic Fox Moth aircraft are expected.
“Joy-rides” will be
an apt description of flights available to the public in
these beautiful aircraft.
For
a printable programme of the weekend's events click here
Haast Summer Programme - The Department
of Conservation in Association with the Haast Community
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Daytime Activities:
For further details about these trips please contact
the Haast Visitor Centre on 03 7500809.
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HAAST
TOKOEKA KIWI SANCTUARY
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Monday
11th January - 10.00 am
Monday, 25th January - 10.00 am
Monday, 8th February - 10.00 am
 Accompany
DOC Rangers into the Haast Tokoeka Kiwi
Sanctuary. Fly to the top of the sanctuary
to experience the amazing aerial view
of the sanctuary and surrounding area
before walking down (approx 5-6 hours).
During the day the DOC Ranger will give
you an insight into the work involved
in saving our Kiwi.
The walk down from the top of the sanctuary
is steep at places and a good level of
fitness and sturdy footwear (boots) are
required. In addition, you should be prepared
for wet and cold weather and have appropriate
clothing as well as water and a packed
lunch.
Departure
will be from the Kiwi Sanctuary, Jackson
Bay Road, Arawhata River Bridge (north
side), and you should report to the helicopter
pilot or DOC staff member on site at 9.30
am.
This event
is weather dependent and may need to be
cancelled on the day. Please contact the
Haast Visitor Centre by 6.00 pm the day
before to determine whether this excursion
will go ahead as planned.
Flight
bookings essential on - www.scenic-flights.co.nz
or call 0800 800793
Flight cost $85.00 to $110.00 per person
depending on numbers.
Contact the Haast Visitor Centre for more
details on 037500809.
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Friday,
22nd January - 5.00 pm Friday,
5th February - 5.00 pm
Blair and his
dog Tussock will take you into the Haast Kiwi
Sanctuary and show you how working dogs in DOC
help find kiwi. Blair will also inform you about
the work that DOC does in the sanctuary to save
the rare kiwi tokoeka species. It is unlikely
that you will see any Kiwi, however you will learn
about this elusive predominantly night time feeder.
This trip will
take 3 plus hours and is on relatively flat terrain.
Sturdy footwear (boots) is required and appropriate
clothing for cold and/or wet weather may be necessary.
Numbers for this
trip will be limited and interested people will
be required to meet at the Kiwi Sanctuary, Jackson
Bay Road, Arawhata River Bridge (north side) and
you should report to the DOC staff member on site
at 4.30 pm.
Directions are also available at the Haast DOC
Visitor Centre.
This event is weather dependent and may need to
be cancelled on the day. Please contact the Haast
Visitor Centre by 12.00 pm on the day, to determine
whether this excursion will go ahead as planned.
Bookings Essential - for more information or to
confirm your place on this excursion contact the
Haast Visitor Centre on 037500809.
Cost
- A $10.00 per person or $30.00 per family donation
to the Haast Kiwi Programme would be very welcome.
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JACKSON
BAY DOLPHINS, SEALS AND MARINE CONSERVATION
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Tuesday, 12th January - 10.00 am Thursday,
11th February - 10.00 am
 Join
Bob & Mauryne Cannell with DOC expert on marine
life, Don Neale on this 3 hour boat cruise for
the Jackson Bay marine experience. See seals,
penguins (seasonal) and dolphins in their natural
environment of Jackson Bay. This excursion will
amaze and inform you and your whole family of
the history, culture and biodiversity of the Jackson
Bay area.
This excursion
is weather dependent and may need to be cancelled
on the day. Please contact the Haast Visitor Centre
by 8.30 am on the day, to determine whether this
excursion will go ahead as planned.
Departure
is from the Jackson Bay wharf at 10.00am. Please
report no later than 9.45am.
Bookings essential through - www.roundabouthaast.co.nz
or call 03750 0890
Cost $110.00 per adult and $60.00 for school going
children.
Contact the Haast Visitor Centre for more details
on 037500809.
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Every Wednesday from 13th January - 3rd
February starting at 5.00 pm -7.00 pm
A number of DOC
staff will be on hand to make this one hour walk
interesting and informative for young and old.
You will more than likely learn something about
biodiversity of the area. The main aspects to
this walk include; tidal, fresh water, birds,
plants and forests.
This event is weather
dependent and may need to be cancelled on the
day. Please contact the Haast Visitor Centre on
the day, to determine whether this excursion will
go ahead as planned.
No booking required.
Cost: Donations welcome.
Contact the Haast Visitor Centre for details on
03 7500809
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Thursday,
14th January - 10.30 am Tuesday,
19th January - 10.30 am Thursday,
28th January - 10.30 am
Tuesday, 2nd February - 10.30 am
Go back in time
to experience the life of the cattle farmers before
there were roads. Join a DOC Ranger and learn
about this historic cattle track which was first
used in 1875. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy the
beauty and solitude at the Blue Hut before the
leisurely walk out while experiencing the unique
flora and fauna of this valley.
The walk in is
about an hour one way and including a 45-60 minute
lunch break the trip will last approximately 3
hours.
Please ensure that you wear sturdy footwear and
bring warm clothing and a rain jacket for this
trip.
Meet at 10.15 am at the northern end of the start
of the Paringa Cattle Track (about 40km north
of the Haast) between Lake Moeraki and Lake Paringa
on State Highway 6. The start of the track is
marked by a DOC sign which reads "Cattle
Track" and a car parking area exists on the
side of the road.
This
event is weather dependent and may need to be
cancelled on the day. Please contact the Haast
Visitor Centre by 8.30 am on the day, to determine
whether this excursion will go ahead as planned.
Booking required through the Haast Visitor Centre
on 03 7500809
Cost: Donation
Contact the Haast Visitor Centre for more details
on 03 75 00809
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Thursday,
21st January - 10.00 am Friday,
29th January - 10.00 am Thursday,
4th February - 10.00 am
 Experience
jet boating up the Waiatoto River - a remote valley
of the Mt Aspiring National Park. Waiatoto River
Safaris provide a unique sea to mountains experience
with a professional river guide and a DOC Ranger
who will share their knowledge of the area from
both a historical and conservation point of view.
A packed lunch will be provided by the Waiatoto
River Safaris, which will be eaten at a suitable
spot along the river followed by a short walk.
Ensure that you have warm clothing, waterproof
jacket, sturdy footwear for walking and your camera.
This trip will take about 3.5 hours inclusive
of lunch and will leave at 10.00am from the Waiatoto
River Bridge (southern side) on the Jackson Bay
Road. Report your arrival at the red, yellow and
blue office (at the Waiatoto River Bridge) no
later than 9.30am for a safety briefing and lifejackets
before boarding the custom built safari craft
at 10.00am.
Booking
is essential on: www.riversafaris.co.nz
or call 0800 538 723
Cost: Adult $159.00
Children $139.00
Contact the Haast Visitor Centre on 03 7500809
for details
Department of Conservation - Haast Visitor Centre
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Evening
Activities: For further details about these activities
please contact the Haast Visitor Centre 03 7500809
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60 MINUTES WEST OF
YESTERDAY - A SUBANTARCTIC PLUNGE TO THE ANTIPODES
AND BOUNTY ISLANDS
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Monday evening 11th January
- 7.00 pm
Join DOC's own
West Coast marine expert, Don Neale, as he gives
an amazing presentation - "60 Minutes West
of yesterday - a sub Antarctic plunge to the Antipodes
& Bounty Islands" which is about an underwater
expedition to two of New Zealand's least-visited
wild places.
Contact the Haast Visitor
Centre for details on 03 7500809
Cost: Donations welcome
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THE EDGE OF THE DITCH
- BENEATH THE WEST COAST WAVES
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Tuesday
evening 12th January - 7.00 pm Thursday
evening 11th February - 7.00 pm
Join DOC's own
West Coast marine expert, Don Neale, as he gives
an amazing presentation - "The Edge of the
Ditch - beneath the West Coast Waves" which
is a slideshow exploring the fascinating underwater
world of South Westland's spectacular coastline.
Contact
the Haast Visitor Centre for details on 03 7500809
Cost: Donations welcome
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HISTORY AND FAUNA
AND FLORA DVD NIGHTS
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Monday evening - 18th& 25th January, and 1st
& 8th February - 7.00 pm
Thursday evening - 21st January and 4th February
- 7.00 pm
A range of interesting
nature related (fauna and flora) DVD's relevant
to the area will be shown. Details of the DVDs
will be available at the Haast Visitor Centre.
Contact
the Haast Visitor Centre for details on 03 7500809
Cost: Donations welcome
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The
Alpine Fault and Geology of the Southern Alps
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Wednesday evening, 10th February - 7.00 pm
This presentation by Dr Simon Cox,
Geologist at GNS Science in Dunedin, will explain
the fault line along the West Coast, how it forms
our Southern Alps, and why we should expect and
plan for a big earthquake in the area.
Visitors are welcome to bring any
interesting rocks or stones from the area for
Dr Simon Cox to look at and comment on.
Contact
the Haast Visitor Centre for details on 03 7500809
Cost: Donations welcome
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Department of Conservation
- Haast Visitor Centre 2010 Summer Programme
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