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).
below to explore this walk.
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
Looking up Twin Creek on our right...
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
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
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
Looking upstream from the footbridge over Upper Twin Creek.
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
This is the highway crossing (photographed later in the day when the cloud had lifted).
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
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
DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Centre: Wharariki or Mountain Flax (Phormium cookianum).
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
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
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
DOBSON NATURE WALK - Arthur's Pass National Park