Birchville dam, Akatarawa forest

Robert Browning: "Our interest's on the dangerous edge of things."

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Wellington's water supply was drawn from small dams and reservoirs in the hills, like this dam near Birchville, or the Korokoro dam (featured here earlier). Now they are part of wildlife reserves.

My son and I walked to the dam this morning - it was a pleasant 20 minute stroll along a forested valley.