A forest alive at dark

Kiwi Trust chairman Hans Pendergrast by the glowworms' home. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

It simply looks like a tree, one that has fallen victim to the weather and has toppled over, leaving its roots sticking up for any and all visitors to the Otanewainuku Conservation Area to see.

But in this loss of life there is new life – little glowworms have set up shop in the tree's roots and spread their light for all to see – but only at night.

But during the day you'd never know. The roots stand beside the Rimu walk and the worms don't glow during the day.

But this is the way of the Otanewainuku Conservation Area– it's a different experience at night, and walkers can enjoy guided walks through the forest and past the glowworms as part of the Echo Walking Fest, starting April 1.

Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust chairman Hans Pendergrast says the forest comes alive at night with wetas, spiders and a plethora of creepy crawlies.

'The night part of the forest is another world; it's something completely different.

'There is an advantage to the guided tours we are offering, because we have a couple of entomologists who can share their vast knowledge and experience.”

And the presence of glowworms means a healthy, flourishing forest, says Hans, and that is helped by the volunteers of the trust.

'The tagline for the trust is: ‘When the forest flourishes, the people flourish'. There's a sense of saying this forest is healthy because of the work people do, and as a person I'm a beneficiary of that.”

Though glowworms aren't guaranteed, the night hikes will uncover a range of other creepy crawlies for curious kids and adults alike.

With more than 50 walks happening throughout the Bay and beyond, the Echo Walking Fest has a range of easy to difficult outdoor activities for the whole family.

To book for the Otanewainuku Family Night Adventure, or any of the other Echo Walking Fest activities, visit: www.echowalkfest.org.nz/walks

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