Holiday fun with DOC in the Mackenzie and Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park
Date: 09 December 2008
Keep the holiday boredom at bay and join Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers in a variety of fun activities from 4 to 23 January. There is something for everybody.
DOC in Twizel has been running their summer programme for 18 years, and the diverse events continue to be very popular with local residents and visitors. For this coming year, Twizel staff join forces with DOC Aoraki/Mount Cook to offer a combined programme for even more diversity, covering the whole Mackenzie basin, Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park and the Upper Waitaki including Kurow.
Looking out over Lake Pukaki
"These programmes are only possible due to continued funding by Meridian Energy and the commitment of DOC staff who gladly give their time during the holiday period to offer some great events," said Ursula Paul from the department's organizing team.
Events include:
- A firefighter show and display offering the opportunity to use the water hose and raise awareness on fire prevention. There will also be information on what is involved in Alpine Search and Rescue (5 January and 17 January 2009).
- Tramps into the North Temple Valley, Richmond trail, Mueller Hut, Point Nicolo or help control weeds together with local community groups.
- Exploration of several Conservation Areas by bike or horse, enjoying the scenery and learning about the conservation values of these areas (6 January and 18 January)
- A trip to Kurow Island that gives participants the chance to learn outdoor skills (7 January)
- An opportunity to get creative and learn to use polymer clays for natural designs (8 January)
- First hand experience of the work DOC predator control rangers do in the Tasman River Valley (9 January)
For those with day-jobs, there are a range of evening events such as:
- Walking or biking the Twizel River Trail;
- Exploring historic places around Twizel;
- Enjoying a BBQ and seeing what flies at night;
- Listening to presentations on travels and DOC's work;
- Visiting the endangered black stilt; or
- Watching movies with a conservation theme in Kurow, Omarama, Twizel or Tekapo.