After staggering into Quintin Lodge following the descent from MacKinnon Pass, we had the option of taking an additional 5 km walk to Sutherland Falls and back before dinner. We had every excuse for skipping this pleasure given the wrecked state of our legs, but naturally we went anyway. At least we did not have to carry our packs.
It seemed like a long 2.5 km, but it was well worth the visit. The falls are 580 metres high, which for Wellingtonians is three times the height of Mount Victoria. So quite high. The noise is similar to the sound of a jet airliner taking off, and as you approach the base you run into a blast of spray and wind like being caught in a storm. Without good wet weather gear you will get drenched.
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| The water falls in three leaps, for a total of 580 metres. |
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| Sue (and my camera) in the blast at the falls. |
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| A photo doesn't really do it - you have to go and see it yourself. |
We learned from the guides that all the rivers here are safe to drink from, as there are no animals to foul the water. There is also little soil and no clay to muddy the waters, so it all runs crystal clear. We tested this theory by drinking from the river running away from the falls. In the good old days of course we often drank from the rivers and streams when out tramping, but I thought that years ago they had all become contaminated. This water tasted great!
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| Sue sampling the clear waters of Staircase Creek |
