Nape nape scenic reserve, 21 October 2012
We spent the day visiting an old childhood haunt of mine, Nape Nape Scenic Reserve. When I was a young boy, my family used to spend our summer camping trips at this secluded coastal reserve. Back then, it had a fully functional campground and even a swimming pool, since the surf is not safe to swim in. The camp ground has since been closed due to landslip dangers and the pool has been removed.
It's still a remarkable place to visit. It's one of the few scraps of coastal native forest left in Canterbury, growing on dramatic white limestone containing fossils. Around the cliffs at the southern end of the beach are fur seals. Banded dotterels are commonly seen on the beach.
One of the highlights of our trip this time were the Corybas macranthus orchids in flower.
I've added assorted photos I took onto NatureWatchiNaturalist NZ and will add my standard bird, butterfly, mammal, and plant counts once we've finished building these features into the website.
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Uuden-Seelanninhylje (Arctocephalus forsteri)Havainnoija
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The remains of the head of a fur seal on the beach. The skull was also there. I was amazed at how stiff and strong the whiskers are.
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Griselinia lucidaHavainnoija
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Roots of puka snaking across limestone faces in the coastal forest.
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Villikaniini (Oryctolagus cuniculus)Havainnoija
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Lying dead on the old road with its head squashed. It would have been incredibly unlucky to have been hit by a vehicle on such a rugged and infrequently used road. I'm guessing the head injury may have occurred after death.
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Here seen growing on kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum). See also my observation from nearby growing on a mahoe.
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Ruusumyrtti (Leptospermum scoparium)Havainnoija
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An individual growing right on the beach edge.
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Sophora microphyllaHavainnoija
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A juvenile Sophora microphylla (or Sophora prostrata, I haven't had a close look yet).
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Omenaruusu (Rosa rubiginosa)Havainnoija
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Just one seen along the old roadside through the reserve. The reserve as a whole was remarkably free of woody weeds. Thanks to whoever is looking after the place.
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Myoporum laetumHavainnoija
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One of several old trees along the coast on the edge of the beach.
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Cordyline australisHavainnoija
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A battered old plant on the edge of the beach.
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Corybas macranthusHavainnoija
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Flowers from one of many patches of this orchid.
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Pseudopanax arboreusHavainnoija
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Several plant species had leaves showing signs of stress, perhaps nutrient stress from the alkaline limestone soils.
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Laikkumailanen (Medicago arabica)Havainnoija
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Growing in the grass around the carpark/old campground area.
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The two flax plants I found were both looking largely clean and uneaten. One had no leaf damage and the other, this plant, had very few holes consistent with old scrapes from Orthoclydon praefactata, and no notches.
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Olearia paniculataHavainnoija
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Witches broom galls on Olearia paniculata, caused by an undescribed species of mite according to the PlantSyNZ website.
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Here seen growing on mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus). See also my observation from nearby growing on a kawakawa.
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We saw several birds, including fledged young, on the beach. There was even this pair on the grass near the beach that we saw as soon as we arrived.
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Suku PterostylisHavainnoija
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Green-hooded orchids were just coming into flower, often with browsed leaves.
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Myoporum laetumHavainnoija
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Growing perched precariously on the limestone cliffs at the south end of the beach (among other places along the coast).
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Old egg case. No live insects were seen but we weren't looking for them.
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Corybas macranthusHavainnoija
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Flowers from one of many patches of this orchid.
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Centranthus ruberHavainnoija
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Very few plants seen, just around the cliffs at the south end of the beach (in hard to reach places).
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Griselinia lucidaHavainnoija
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Both Griselinia species were common in the reserve and both were in flower.
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Griselinia lucidaHavainnoija
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Both Griselinia species were common in the reserve and both were in flower. Here, I am hold up a branch of Griselinia littoralis (of the left) from a tree growing immediately adjacent to this Griselinia lucida (on the right).
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Lycium ferocissimumHavainnoija
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One long-established adult and several nearby juveniles in one patch part way up the limestone cliff at the south end of the beach.
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Both Griselinia species were common in the reserve and both were in flower.
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Griselinia lucidaHavainnoija
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Browsing damage on a young broadleaf. Browsing damage was common.
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This fern was the dominant vegetation covering the forest floor in many places.
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Phormium cookianumHavainnoija
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This flax was large and our first though was Phormium tenax but all of the old seed capsules are consistently hanging down, as found with Phormium cookianum.
Growing in open, low coastal forest near the beach.
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Rubus squarrosusHavainnoija
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A commonly encountered species in this forest, here photographed in flower.
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Piper excelsumHavainnoija
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The host plant of a mistletoe, Ileostylus micranthus (entered as a separate observation).
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Uuden-Seelanninhylje (Arctocephalus forsteri)Havainnoija
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There were three seals at the south end of the beach by the cliff, one lazing near the water and another two up at the edge of the cliffs.
Kommentit
Hi Jon
Great photos of this amazing place!
I'm an artist doing postgraduate study at Ilam School of Fine Arts. I'm interested in Napenape, both environmentally and in terms of its history. Can you tell me more about the swimming pool that was once at Napenape? Was it a concrete pool or more of a hole in a creek? When was it there, where was it situated and when was it removed? I remember the DOC campsite but did Napenape once have a commercial camping ground?
I'd be grateful for any information you might be able to give me.
Ngā mihi
Giselle
Hi Giselle I live very near Napenape and would love to also know history about this beautiful place. And any photos etc. cheers jen
Hi @gisellekfortune and @jalep99,
Thanks for your interest. It was a built outdoor swimming pool and there used to be quite a crowd of families camping there each summer. I'll talk to my parents and see if I can hunt down some old photos and some more information.
It was a great place to have adventures as a kid. (And it's still a magical place to explore.)
Cheers,
Jon
Thanks Jon that would be awesome.
@jon_sullivan @jalep99,
Thanks Jon. That would be great.
Giselle
Hi All
just reading this after doing a google search on Nape Nape, as a kid I used to visit often with my family, the farm that owned the area to the beach was my great uncle? (I think) "Big" Sid Wilkinson, they built the camp ground, with the in ground pool, from memory there was also an A frame house and wool/shearing shed as well, it was a magic place!
@gisellekfortune @jalep99 @jon_sullivan
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