Exploring the Honeydew Walk
The Honeydew Walk is located in the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area at Lake Rotoiti, within Nelson Lakes National Park. Situated on the east side of Kerr Bay, this well-maintained track offers an easy 30-minute loop through a mature beech forest. It's an ideal spot for those interested in nature and conservation.
Discovering the Beech Forest
The walk begins on the Bellbird Walk loop, starting at the car park near the east jetty at Kerr Bay. As you walk into the beech forest, you'll encounter several informative panels. These panels provide insights into the recovery project and help identify various plants and trees. One set of panels explains the differences between red beech (tawhai raunui), silver beech (tawhai or tahina), and mountain beech (tawhai rauriki).
Unique Features of the Forest
As you walk, you'll notice the distinctive blackened trunks and branches of the red and mountain beech trees. This phenomenon is caused by a tiny scale insect that burrows into the bark, feeding on the sapwood. The insect excretes nectar, leading to the growth of black mould. This environment supports nectar-feeding birds like korimako and tūī. Commercial honey bees also harvest the nectar to produce honey, marketed as honeydew or beechwood honey.
Extending Your Walk
For those seeking a longer adventure, the Loop Track offers a 90-minute walk. This track also connects to the start of the St Arnaud Range Track, which involves a challenging 1,000-metre climb to the tops.
Getting to the Honeydew Walk
To reach the Honeydew Walk from Saint Arnaud, drive to the car park near the campsite and the east jetty at Kerr Bay from State Highway 63. You can take either Kerr Bay Road or Bridge Street, then continue on Lake Road to the car park.
Nearby, you can also explore the Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk, West Bay, the Pourangahau / Mt Robert Viewpoint and the Classic Boat Museum in St Arnaud.
