Friday 15 May by Robyn Owen
Seventeen club members converged on Waiuta, an historic abandoned gold mining town close to Reefton. One of the many positives of going on a photography field trip is that the trip gives you licence to take all day getting there, stop wherever you like, and to not feel pressured to move on by the driver or other passengers! That is how Bob and I approached Friday, leaving Christchurch at 8.30 am and finally arriving at Waiuta around 5pm, a distance of around 280 km. We decided to travel via Arthur’s Pass with our first stop at Klondyke corner to have a look for fungi in the beech forest. A few little brown fungi and lingering frost where the sun had not reached. Driving through the Waimakariri basin we could see patches of fog so next stopped at Lake Sarah for perfect reflections. Our next stop was at the Mitchell end of Lake Brunner and what a bluebird day it turned out to be-blue lake, blue sky and stunning reflections of the Kahikatea trees standing tall in the water. Our final stop was at Nelson creek where we found a moderate variety of fungi within a 100 metres of the track start. A very tempting yellow mushroom beckoned us but it was sited at the edge of one of the old deep gold mining ravines, not worth the risk. A great day, thanks Bob.
Saturday 16 May by Rose Kerin
On a very cold Saturday morning, we all woke up to a frosty cold morning.
We all needed to adjust to the cold and dress warmly for the day ahead.
It was a good feeling when the sun finally came out. Everybody then headed out and made their way up to the abandoned Gold Mining Settlement to explore its surroundings. On the way up, a friendly robin appeared on the path. For a time, he just sat there watching us. Bellbirds were also spotted at the photographer’s hut. We also saw a couple of tuis around the Rimu cottage.
The town offered to be a really interesting site which once was a gold mining town. A handful of original structures remained standing, including a former police station, an old barber shop, and three historic cottages. Robert was on the lookout for Fungi and the day finished with a night shoot. It was certainly a very clear night in the skies and some experienced a distant Aurora.
The day finished with a tasty Potluck dinner and delicious dessert.
Sunday 17 May 2026 by Sue Blair
After a group photo around 9am we all left Waiuta travelling in different directions. I followed Eleanor and Owen to Moana. We stopped in at the Blackwater School, which brought back memories of sitting at wooden desks and using pens with nibs which had to be filled from the ink wells. Moving onto Ikamatua where we crossed the Grey River and travelled through clean green farmland with the bush clad mountains on our right. We checked out the Memorial for the Pike River Miners. Crossing back over the river near Stillwater we were in Moane by about 11am. I enjoyed a freshly brewed coffee and sweet monkey bread at Eleanor and Owen’s beautiful comfy “bach”. Lake Brunner was looking stunning as I continued my journey. Quite a few stops on the way: lake near Innchbonnie, Jacksons, Cockayne Nature Walk, Kea corner, Arthurs Pass, Greyneys, Cass and Lake Pearson. Captured: reflections, nostalgia, fungi, rost,deer, No Keas or birdlife and was very sad to see the absence of the willows at the Lake Pearson carpark. No more challenges to get a different perspective of the icons of the area.
“Thanks” James for organising a great weekend at Waiuta which on first observations there seems to be a bunch of old relics But on closer inspection there’s so much more to find.
