Ōkārito Lagoon

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Ōkārito Lagoon is a coastal lagoon on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located 130 kilometres south of Hokitika, and covers an area of about 12 km², making it the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand.

Several small rivers drain into the lagoon, and it is the outflow of Lake Mapourika. The lagoon is home of many species of wading birds, notably the extremely rare (in New Zealand) kōtuku (Eastern Great Egret). Ōkārito is the kōtuku's only New Zealand breeding place.[1][2]

At the southern end of the lagoon is the small settlement of Ōkārito. Originally a gold mining township, the population reached of over 1,500 in 1866.[3] It is now permanent home to only about 30 residents - among them Booker Prize-winning writer Keri Hulme and landscape photographer Andris Apse.

In 1909 the bones of a whale beached in 1908, 6 miles north of the setllement were taken to Canterbury and displayed and called the Okarito Whale [4][5]

Bird watching, eco-tours and kayak tours of the lagoon are available, and there are a number of local hikes.

The rarest species of kiwi, the Okarito Kiwi, or Rowi, is also found near the town of Ōkārito.

References

  1. ↑ Kotuku, the white heron
  2. ↑ Native Fact sheet, Kotuku (broken link) Wellington Zoo
  3. ↑ http://glaciercountry.co.nz/pages/38/
  4. ↑ "The Okarito Whale.". The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939) (Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 22 May 1909. p. 40. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  5. ↑ "A NOTABLE EXHIBIT.". Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) (Lismore, NSW: National Library of Australia). 29 October 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 

External links

Settlements

Coordinates: 43°12′S 170°13′E / 43.200°S 170.217°E / -43.200; 170.217

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