Kaitoreti Spit

Kaitoreti Spit is a favourite place for me.
It is ~30kms from home, off the highway to Little River and Akaroa on Banks Peninsula.
The spit is a narrow stretch of land, approximately 25-30kms long. At its narrowest southern end at Taumutu it is only a matter of a few metres wide - the place where Lake Ellesmere potentially opens to the sea. At its widest northern end at Birdling's Flat, the spit is 2 kms wide. There is a shingle road down the spit for ~10 kms, followed by a rough 4WD track almost to the tip.
On one side is the Pacific Ocean, benign some days - threatening on others. Dramatic and frightening occasionally!

Southerly Storm at Birdling's Flat

Lake Ellesmere (Waihora) is abundant in bird life - a total of 157 species have been identified, 133 of them native, using the lake or fringe areas.
Lake Forsyth (Wairewa) used to be open to the sea - another southern bay - until 3-400 years ago.
The coastal cliffs, up to 10 metres high, south of the Rakaia River are being eroded at up to 1 metre each year. This, along with outflow debris from the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, drifts north up the coastline by the ocean currents and is deposited at the end of the beach where it meets the southern edge of Banks Peninsula at Birdling's Flat - and hence the growth of Kaitoreti Spit (or more correctly a barrier) at its northern end. Plus of course the eventual closing off of the bay which then became Lake Forsyth.
The area is rich in history - both European and Maori. There were several tribes living in the area - at least two pa, one at the southern end at Taumutu and another at at Matahapuka right where Lake Forsyth is closest to the sea at Birdling's Flat. There may be more and middens have been found along the spit.

Looking north from near Taumutu towards Birdling's Flat and Banks Peninsula

After the European settlers in Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury Plains, wood was needed to build houses and bridges (the most significant being the Rakaia River bridge - longest in NZ). This wood (primarily totara) came from the hills above Lake Forsyth and Little River. There were at least 7 saw mills in the valley. The wood was brought down to Lake Forsyth, barged or rafted down the lake to near Birdling's Flat, then winched across Kaitoreti Spit to Lake Ellesmere, where again, it was barged across the lake to waiting trains and taken to either Christchurch or areas south.
Sadly today, both Lake Ellesmere (5th largest lake in NZ) and especially Lake Forsyth have suffered the ravages of farm run-off (effluent and chemicals) and are in bad shape with severe pollution.

The widest aspect of Kaitoreti Spit with Lake Forsyth and Banks Peninsula in the background

Take the time to explore this historical and fragile landscape. The silence will envelope you!