Mountain totara tree

We walked the Port Levy Saddle Track to Mt Herbert, on Banks Peninsula.

We saw lots of ghostly remnants of the native totara tree. The original forests of Banks Peninsula were logged in the 19th century by early European settlers.

In the distance, on the left, are some remnants of the old mountain totara forest. Some regeneration is occurring, although not evident in this photo.

On the right are Lake Ellesmere, the Kaitorete Spit and the Pacific Ocean, more easily seen in large.

This photo was taken at about 800 metres above sea level, on the way to Mt Herbert, which at 919 metres, is the highest point on Banks Peninsula.

View from the top of Mt Herbert.

A super day spent in the great outdoors!