Trip Report - December 2019
08 December 2019 - Lake Hakanoa / Woodlands Estate / Zealong Tea Estate
New logistics to speak with the
bus driver!
With a dire weather forecast for thunder, lightning and heavy showers predicted, but with a positive attitude foremost, our club members climbed into the bus for the last club trip of 2019. The day was to be leisurely and not too demanding as was fitting for the time of year.
Lake Hakanoa in Huntly, where we did our first walk of the day is tucked in secretly to the east of State Highway 1 and was a surprise to many who had so often driven through the town not knowing that the peaceful lake and gardens were there.
With a dire weather forecast for thunder, lightning and heavy showers predicted, but with a positive attitude foremost, our club members climbed into the bus for the last club trip of 2019. The day was to be leisurely and not too demanding as was fitting for the time of year.
Lake Hakanoa in Huntly, where we did our first walk of the day is tucked in secretly to the east of State Highway 1 and was a surprise to many who had so often driven through the town not knowing that the peaceful lake and gardens were there.
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An impressive entrance way and information boards at the start of the track showed us the extent of the garden with its 13 different areas. The flat loop walk of just under 4km which we all took, gave us the opportunity to not only observe the Canada geese, swans and other aquatic birds, but to also admire the surrounding gardens. The Global Gardens displayed plants and trees from 8 regions of the world, which attracted interest from us, enough to stop and look
closely especially at the unusual Japanese yew and the Lebanese cedar. |
Woodlands Estate
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 Green Cathedral
Having morning tea sitting on the benches provided in the Green Cathedral was a very pleasant spot to stop before continuing to complete the loop walk.
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From Lake Hakanoa the trip continued to Woodlands Estate, near Gordonton, another hidden gem in the Waikato. https://www.woodlands.co.nz/visit
The garden on the estate is of rare historic and landscape interest being rated a Founding Property of New Zealand Gardens Trust and is a “NZ Garden of National Significance.” Much of the 15 acres of the estate as it stands today were planted 135 years ago.
Lake and bridge at Woodlands
Club members, once off the bus soon dispersed in many directions to enjoy the estate. Some to lunch beneath the trees alongside the vast expanse of grass provided for cricket matches. Others found more secluded places to lunch as in small courtyards or on garden seats from which they could view the different colours of the planted beds. Rather than lunching first, several members decided to walk the estate’s garden trail clutching their map and list of trees of interest. They then were able to identify the London plane tree (Platanus acerfolia), the Brown barrel gum (Eucalyptus fastigata), the Tulip tree (Liliodendron tulipifera) and the Japanese kowhai (Sophora Japonica “pendula”). Much staggering backwards and a few cricked necks resulted in order to take in the height of the taller trees.
Woodlands homestead enticed the curious to come inside to view a slice of life from yesteryear. The Christmas decorations bringing in the touch of the festive season. Before departing we gathered around in the shade of the trees, sat down and ate a wonderful array of Christmas treats, provided by Anne, Marilyn, Derek and Gail.
Sculpture - 3 Leaves
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Amongst the tea bushes
Prize winning puddles!
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To our delight at the trail end we were taken into a pavilion to learn more about tea picking, processing and the different blends. The video we watched taught us that only the top three leaves from the stem of the Camellia sinensis bush are picked for the tea making. We were interested to know that the tea masters employed there have the skill to discern the correct taste, aroma and appearance for each blend, a work of art and science. Before our tasting session we were instructed how to taste in the traditional way and appreciate the different blends. This required some dexterity in quickly flipping the tea from one cup to another. Several puddles on the tables were spotted where the flipping over technique had failed. The tour guide mentioned that to slurp the tea was not bad manners, but in fact allowed air in which would enhance the flavour. Consequently there then was a small outbreak of slurping noises. The visit to Zealong was enlightening and of interest not only for us to learn, but for us to see what some people in New Zealand have been able to accomplish. https://zealong.com |
Special thanks to Sharleen and Fiona for putting together this interesting and fun, end of year walk.
Text: Fiona
Photos: Sharleen, Fiona and Linda
Text: Fiona
Photos: Sharleen, Fiona and Linda