“On a Mish” #412 Lakeside Retreat (Part Two). North Mavora Lake. Mavora Lakes Conservation Park. 21.8.2024. Over my time in the outdoors I have worked with, lived with, and constantly been around the watchful eye of keen conservationists. The magical islands in the South Pacific were once even more magical with the sounds of many exotic birds only found in this part of the planet. Unfortunately, as soon as it was found the decline began. That is why there are strict rules put in place to prevent losing the little we have left, and I am all for following the rules to bring back our birds. Following the rules means I must camp with Georgie in places the allow both dog and human to hike in. Although we can see Fiordland and Takitimu Range from our home in Te Anau, those are places off limits to untrained K9’s. Luckily only 70kms away there is a place where both hound and the ones that love / feed them can roam and set up camp for a night out on a mish…
As I readied my first load, I was still getting over the fact that the massive camping ground was empty. On summer missions to the area, I’d drive past tent after tent, along with the odd massive motor home, some nearly bigger than my house! But on this visit, nothing.
My plan was to hike to the bottom end of North Mavora Lake and find a small patch to pitch my awesome Marmot tent on. I had spotted a small patch of grass while driving, and now all I had to do was get my gear there. I had an idea that this was going to be a good mish, but already everything was exceeding my expectations.
The drive alone is a reason to visit the Mavora and Von Valleys. After looking at the heavily forested mountains of Fiordland it is nice to see a little bit of variety. The burnt yellow hills grow after you turn off State Highway 94 and onto the dust of the road that not only leads to the two Mavora Lakes, but also all the way to Walter Peak Station and the deep blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. I was lucky to have these surrounds with a dusting of icing sugar on top. My eyes were pleased with what they were witnessing.
Thanks to no one being around I was able to let Georgie clock up some Kms off the lead. I feel gutted my hip prevents me from running with her as I can see she absolutely loves moving at speed. Now that she was free, she showed me how fast she could really move, and at only 8 months old I know she is only going to get faster. What a find she was up in the back-blocks of Gore!
We hiked the first and then second bag around to the top of the lake, and it was now time to see up my new tent for the third time. I am loving it and looking forward to using it a lot in many different locations. I was in a place that matched my sick-as shelter, so everything was going to plan and then some. There is so much to love about living in the south, and one thing that is top of the list is access to places people travel from all around the planet to see. For me it is just 70 kilometres drive and I’m right amongst the grandeur and me and Georgie’s own little lakeside treat…
