Tussock & Beech Ecotours
Crested Grebes (photo © Tussock & Beech Ecotours)
We run ecotours and provide cottage-stay accommodation. Two and three day ecotours in the beautiful sub-alpine region of Mt Somers, Erewhon and Ashburton Lakes. The habitats we visit include:
- Braided rivers – Rangitata, Ashburton and Rakaia, nesting habitat of the endangered wrybill, black-fronted tern, banded dotterel and black-billed gull (August – December)
- Lake Heron Nature Reserve & Wildlife Refuge, Maori Lakes, Lakes Emma and Clearwater – important habitat for the rare southern (great) crested grebe and many other wetland birds
- Mt Somers Conservation Area – mountain beech forest, birds seen include rifleman, bellbird, tomtit, fantail, grey warbler, silvereye, kereru (NZ pigeon)
- Mt Somers Track – habitat of New Zealand falcon, NZ pipit and kea
Accommodation in modern lodge and 130 years old restored historic cottage, registered with NZ Historic Places Trust. Quality meals provided using fresh ingredients.
