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| Lake Alexandrina is next to the larger Lake Tekapo, a short distance off the Christchurch to Queestown road. |
We were up early to be on the lake at 0530 hr before sunrise and again before sunset until well after dark weather permitting, 2230 - 2300 hrs.
Not only did I take my fishing gear but the camera gear came into good use during the day.
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| Lake Alexandrina |
We stayed at the south end of the lake, which is mainly spring fed. This is due to its glacial origins being the largest tarn in the country. The outlet to the lake is behind the point in the centre right of the photo. The mountains at the top of the lake are those of the Southern Alps, unfortunately sparsely covered in snow for early December.
In the 1920's, winters were much colder than now. Farmers drove bullock teams across the frozen lake from the sheep runs at the top left of the photo.
In the 1920's, winters were much colder than now. Farmers drove bullock teams across the frozen lake from the sheep runs at the top left of the photo.
Russell lupins have spread throughout the Mackenzie Country and were at their best when I was there. Farmers consider them a weed but they have become a tourist attraction.
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| Russell lupins provide a nice frame for the lake. |
Shot details: Canon 450D, f/20. 1/25s, ISO-200 at 26mm with +1.3AEB. Camera on tripod approx 30cm above the ground.
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| Many coloured lupins abound at the southern end of the lake. |
Lake Alexandrina is a conservation reserve and as such, very strict conditions exist about its use.
- No powered or wind assisted craft are allowed on the lake. Only small dingies or canoes / kayaks are permitted.
- The huts must collect rainwater, no electricity and best of all - cellphone reception is almost non-existent.
- Environmentally friendly public toilets have recently been built as has a tin shed for a solar shower.
- Remove all your own rubbish too.
Lake Alexandrina is an alpine tarn - a water filled depression left after the glaciers retreated during the last ice-age.
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| Fishing huts at the south end. |
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| The other side of the lake with Mt John, top left. |
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| South end of Lake Alexandrina with the Mt John Observatory on the skyline. |
Lake Tekapo was carved out by massive glacial advances during the Pleistocene ice-age and is on the other side of Mt John.
Mt John is classic example of a roche moutonnée which is harder rock resisting the ice flow over top of it. Ice about 2km thick over rode what is now Mt John when Lake Tekapo was being carved out.
Mt John is classic example of a roche moutonnée which is harder rock resisting the ice flow over top of it. Ice about 2km thick over rode what is now Mt John when Lake Tekapo was being carved out.
In glaciology,
a roche moutonnée (or sheepback) is a rock
formation created by the passing of a glacier. The
passage of glacier ice over underlying bedrock often results in asymmetric
erosional forms as a result of abrasion on the "stoss" (upstream)
side of the rock and plucking on the "lee" (downstream) side. These
erosional features are seen on scales of less than a metre to several hundred metres.
Wikipedia.
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| Glacial erratic |
This large schist rock was carried there by the glacier and left behind when it retreated. This one is unusual in that is it on top of a hill and dominates the skyline. Many other erratics dot this area.
Being a conservation reserve, the lake and surroundings are to be kept as a pristine habitat for aquatic life and bird life. Rainbow trout abound but brown trout are quite rare in this lake and any caught are to be returned to the lake.
Around half a dozen species of birds make Lake Alexandrina home. Black swans and mallard ducks are readily seen. I didn't bother my camera with these but concentrated on the grebes and scaups.
Being a conservation reserve, the lake and surroundings are to be kept as a pristine habitat for aquatic life and bird life. Rainbow trout abound but brown trout are quite rare in this lake and any caught are to be returned to the lake.
Around half a dozen species of birds make Lake Alexandrina home. Black swans and mallard ducks are readily seen. I didn't bother my camera with these but concentrated on the grebes and scaups.
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| Southern Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus australis) |
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| Grebe pair in a synchronised display. |
Returning slowly one morning from fishing in the dingy, we found a grebe nest hidden away underneath a willow tree on some branches about 5m from the lake shore. Further investigation and stalking yielded the photo below.
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| Nesting grebe. |
Shot details: Canon 450D, f/5. 1/200s, ISO-200 at 200mm with +2.7 AEB. Me lying flat amongst the tussocks poking the lens through the tussock to get a clear shot around the tree branches.
The nest was in a shady area and there was bright sunlight. There was a huge glare coming off the water resulting in a large contrast which took some time to get the exposure right for the bird. Consequently the background is blown out but the grebe, with a little processing of the image, has produced my best shot of the trip.
Another plentiful bird is the New Zealand scaup.
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| New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae), |
Shot details: Canon 450D, f/5.6. 1/160s, ISO-200 at 269mm
I managed to get quite close to these birds as they came ashore. Using some bushes as cover I got to within 5-7 m of them to get these uncropped shots. They were completely unperturbed by my presence.
That wraps up the best of the photos I took at Lake Alexandrina.
We did managed to land one rainbow trout ca 60cm long - my Timaru friend got this. I did however take great pleasure in stalking and shooting many birds, with my Canon! My results will last a long time, the trout ended up on the BBQ.
