Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
An easy and interesting 30 minute 2.5 km return walk. An excellent self-guided booklet about the different native plants and their habitats on this walk is available from the Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre in Arthur's Pass township.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

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Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Here we are at the Temple basin carpark. This walk is named after Arthur Dobson, who explored the pass with his brother, Edward.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Looking up Twin Creek on our right...

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
...and this is Upper Twin Creek on our left. They merge at the bridge we just crossed.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
We could have parked at this carpark instead - but the further we walk, the more we see...

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
The plantlife down here is more sheltered - and has grown bigger here than it has higher up on the Nature Walk.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Looking upstream from the footbridge over Upper Twin Creek.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Next we cross the highway. It's a nature walk with trucks. Big trucks, straining uphill...

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
This is the highway crossing (photographed later in the day when the cloud had lifted).

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
The track passes through tussocks to this intersection with the Arthur's Pass Walking Track. We keep heading to the right...

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Then we come to boggy ground, strewn with these huge boulders - possibly left here by an ancient glacier.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Centre: Wharariki or Mountain Flax (Phormium cookianum).

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Looking back at where we've come from. In the distance we can see the Dobson Memorial in the low cloud.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Mount Cook Lily (Ranunculus lyalli) isn't really a lily. It's actually the world's biggest buttercup.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Here the track descends to the end of the walk and a view of the Arthur Dudley Dobson Memorial.

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park

Dobson Nature Walk, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park