“On a Mish” #432 Hanging Out (Part One). Forest Clearing, Mavora Lakes Conservation Area. 23.3.2025. It is incredible how beneficial hanging out in nature can be. The change from the normal pressures of society to the calming peace of the wilderness can be just what the doctor ordered. It had been a while since I had been on a real mish into the outdoors so I needed to find somewhere where not only I could hang out, but also could bring my number one mish buddy, Georgie…
Living in Te Anau can be a little bit like being stranded at sea and thirsty. We are surrounded by the magnificence of Fiordland National Park in the town, but the park is a no-go zone for dogs. This has meant I have had to search for dog-friendly locations, which has taken me to some excellent new camping areas.
One place that is dog friendly and stunning to look at is Mavora Lakes. Beech trees and ferns cover the mountains, and the sound of native birds is a welcome replacement to that of cars and other people. This is one of the rare places where both hound and human can hang out and take in the scenery. Now the question was, where do I pitch my tent in this big area of beauty?
The forecast promised clearing skies and a chilly but fine evening, just perfect for camping. I gathered gear and Georgie and then began the drive from Te Anau out to the Mavora Lakes Road. Above me was a mixed bag as far the weather was concerned. It looked like it was still raining in some places, and in others the sun was beaming down brightly. By now I was fully committed so I just hoped for the best as I rolled along the gravel road. In less than an hour I was surrounded by stunningness and ready to go on a mish.
On the map I had spotted a clearing just south of South Mavora Lake, and thanks to the fact that I always like to go somewhere a little different that would be the spot where I would pitch my tent and hang out for the night. After locking up it was time to hit the track and, leading the way, was a very keen doggo who was dragging me along like she knew exactly where we were going. It is always awesome having a dog’s enthusiasm rub off on you, a perfect way to enhance the excitement factor!
Thanks to my back and hip I was going to be using my two-pack technique to get all of our gear and food to the clearing. On the map the clearing didn’t look too far, but once walking it seemed to take slightly looking than expected. After working out which spots were dry and which boggy I dumped my first pack and trekked back for the other.
Everything was going very well and at this stage I was looking forward to hanging out at a cool campsite with my best bud. The main thing now was that the weather did what it was supposed to do according to the forecast…
