UNKNOWN PLACES OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

CONTENTS:
1. Secret and fascinating places of Great Britain pag.1
2. Enjoy the cultural and historic eauty of Sha!espeare country pag.2
". The #ost eautiful secret locations in $ustralia pag."
%. $#erica&s #ost eautiful ger#s pag.'
'. (a!e your escape to the #ost #ysterious places in Canada pag.)
). *eritage of Ne+ ,ealand pag.-
-. Conclusion pag.1.
/. Biliography pag.11
0ey +ords: secret, hidden, discover, explore, unearth, unveil, legacy, heritage, reveal, treasure,
astonishing, traveler, historic site, iconic attractions, seamount, isolated.
SECRET AND FASCINATING PLACES OF GREAT BRITAIN
$ +orld you ne1er !ne+ e2isted
$ll around us lie o1ergro+n and forgotten sites +ith fascinating stories to tell. This article focuses
specifically on guiding the reader onto the secret and hidden places of Great Britain that one #ay +ant to
unearth and disco1er.
3al!ing around 4ondon5s orital #otor+ay6 the (2' you can find yourself na1igating a gulag of
7ictorian and Ed+ardian asylu#s. Napsury6 part of a colony of institutions et+een 8otters Bar and
$ots 4angley6 +as sealed off6 a+aiting its de1elop#ent pac!age. 9ou #ay duc! under the peri#eter
fence and in1estigated. Those endless corridors: Charts of che#ical regi#es pinned to cru#ling +alls.
The ice;crac!le of ro!en glass underfoot.
$cross the #otor+ay6 close to the spot +here (argaret Thatcher cut the rion and declared the
orital #adness open6 you find another gated co##unity6 the for#er asylu# at Shenley. < #et a gardener6
tending grounds that +ere once +or!ed on y reco1ering patients6 +ho told #e that this #ansion had once
een the ho#e of the architect Nicholas *a+!s#oor. $t the ac! of a s#all chapel6 in the slipstrea# of the
#otor+ay6 < found *a+!s#oor5s gra1e6 co1ered o1er +ith autu#n lea1es6 in a shallo+ arecue pit.
That !ind of disco1ery6 =eroing in on the thing that < didn5t !no+ < needed6 confir#s #e as a paid;
up enthusiast for unofficial history: ru#ours of nuclear un!ers eneath Esse2 far#s6 deserted hospitals6
ghosts of suuria. 8ossessing the right guide oo!6 especially +hen you lea1e it in your poc!et6 to read at
ho#e +hen the +al! is o1er6 is ho+ < li!e to operate.
On #y o+n doorstep6 as < re1eal in #y #ost recent oo!6 *ac!ney6 That >ose;>ed E#pire6 an
in1estigation of local #ythology thro+s up a ?#ole #an? urro+ing under the streets6 and a s@uatter filling
his property +ith o+ls. Secrets are just headlines that ha1e not yet een pulished.
The Secret Britain guide5s detecti1es6 searching out curiosities and surreal conjunctions6 delight in
disco1ering the #ar1ellous in the apparently #undane. *ere is a catalogue of re#nants of a suppressed
history. The faded pla@ue that preoccupied citi=ens ha1e #issed. Anheard +hispers fro# the spoo! in the
cellar. $n epic hi!e through rural territory fro# +hich e1ery other hu#an presence has 1anished. Boarded;
o1er +arehouses +ith art nou1eau calligraphy. Graffiti stencils re1ised y anarchists: grenades that turn
into roses. (egalithic tu#ps6 redundant filling stations6 a stretch of >o#an road gi1en o1er to +eeds and
far# dogs6 +hile traffic clogs on the contiguous #otor+ay. Tar#ac airstrips of second +orld +ar o#er
s@uadrons returned to agricultural disuse. The sinister arn that #ay conceal rac!s of attery chic!ens or a
deflated ,eppelin. These sites6 co#e upon y accident6 pric! our i#agination6 pro1o!e re1erie. Buesting for
one story6 +e lunder into another: +e #ust train oursel1es to e2pect the une2pected.
1
The thing hidden ehind a high +all is still part of our true ?legacy?6 ut uildings and sites
so#eti#es ha1e to +ait to achie1e a haunting dereliction6 to eco#e legiti#ate targets for 1ulgar curiosity.
That5s ho+ the Secret Britain guide philosophy +or!s: +hen you don5t see it6 it is still there. $nd +hen you
do6 it is on the point of disappearance.
3riting this article is to glory in parado2: re1ealing hidden treasures +hile pro#oting their
occulted status. By featuring in such a guide6 are the disregarded pillo2es6 follies and #e#orials to the
forgotten stripped of their 1eno#6 their #ysterious po+erC
*ere6 our +riters are the unsponsored celerants of deco##issioned uildings and lost #e#orials.
They tease discrete frag#ents of history into a co#prehensi1e theory that lin!s all this +eird e1idence
together6 granting us a ne+ 1ision of the +orldD a feeling that ehind that padloc!ed door6 in the #ossy
erasure of a gra1estone6 in the 7ictorian trade sign on a conde#ned +arehouse6 is a #essage +e #ust
reco1er.
The tric!6 according to (artin 8arr6 in his feature in our first chapter6 is to ?start loo!ing at the
+orld in a different +ay? ; y applying the e2cited anticipation of the ad1enturer in e2otic lands to our o+n
ac!yard. The #ost co##on ojects ; +hen they are noticed6 inspected fro# a ne+ angle ; are spectacular.
8arr li!es petrol pu#ps and post o2es. 3ith the culture shift into @uic!;fi2 property6 ree=e;loc!
ad1enturis#6 petrol stations are no longer acti1e concerns ut creeper;infested locations auditioning as art
+or!s. 4ists of threatened ojects6 once ta!en for granted6 for# a ne+ !ind of poetry. The poetry of fact.
3hich is ho+ Secret Britain functions6 confir#ing so#e of our o+n pri=ed disco1eries +hile suggesting
e2peditions to other places #entioned y a host of generous contriutors.
<t is astonishing ho+ the #ultitude of e2plorers6 out there in the British landscape6 ring ac!
e1idence of +orlds +ithin +orlds. The s#allest entries in the ga=etteer of personal treasures plays its part in
for#ing a coherent +hole6 a fiction of disappearance and restitution. $ #ap. $ guide. $ pro#pt: use this
oo! as a +ay of getting lost6 to ad1antage.
Enjoy the culturl n! h"#tor"c $euty o% Sh&e#'ere country((
4ocated in south 3ar+ic!shire6 Stratford offers eautiful countryside6 ustling #ar!et to+ns +ith
historic pasts and idyllic 1illages. On the an!s of the >i1er $1on lies the internationally recogni=ed to+n
of Stratford;upon;$1on6 the irthplace and childhood ho#e of 3illia# Sha!espeare.
Not only is Sha!espeare&s childhood ho#e open to 1ie+6 ut you can also 1isit four other
properties once elonging to his daughter6 +ife6 #other and Nash&s *ouse +here he spent his last fe+
years. These uildings allo+ you to e2perience at first;hand +hat daily life +as li!e for this +orld
reno+ned play+right. *oly Trinity Church is also neary6 +here Sha!espeare +as aptised and laid to rest.
*o+e1er6 Stratford is #ore than just the ho#e of Sha!espeareD there are nu#erous other historic
connections and sights +ell +orth a 1isit. Captain Scott spent his last fe+ days at the 1illage of Binton
efore departing to his fateful e2pedition of the $ntarctic. Stratford&s central location in the heart of
England #a!es 1isiting other iconic attractions and surrounding areas easy. There are also #any cycle and
+al! +ays situated around the 3ar+ic!shire countryside6 along +ith 1ineyards and a utterfly far#.
Stratford;upon;$1on6 na#ed one of Britain&s heritage cities6 is a thri1ing #ar!et to+n +ith a
di1erse range of shops and restaurants. <t is internationally reno+ned for the >oyal Sha!espeare Co#panyD
one of the est !no+n theatre ense#les. 3ith plenty of perfor#ances of the +or!s of Sha!espeare as +ell
as other renaissance dra#atists and conte#porary +riters6 1isitors +ill ha1e an unforgettale e2perience.
2
7isitors to this district can also e2perience #agic and #ystery at the haunted house of Bo#ay
(anor (useu# or fine culture at Co#pton 7erney $rt Gallery6 as +ell as other #useu#s in the area.
A ru"ne! c#tle n! '"cn"c# $y the r")er ***(
Ne+castle E#lyn is a s#all6 pleasant6 #ar!et to+n nestling in the green hills of north
Car#arthenshire on the an!s of the >i1er Teifi6 a sal#on and se+in E#igratory troutF fishing ri1er6 +hich
di1ides the counties of Car#arthenshire and Ceredigion.
The to+n that has a population of less than G.. is joined to $dpar6 the site of the first printing press
in 3ales6 y a ridge o1er the ri1er Teifi. The to+n ta!es its na#e fro# the ruined castle6 that is al#ost
encircled y the ri1er6 and the castle grounds are free to +ander as are the pleasant ri1erside +al!s and
picnic areas.
There are three pay and display car par!s +ith disaled car par!ing. So#e disaled par!ing is
a1ailale on the #ain street. T+o pulic toilets6 one +ith disaled facilities are situated in the (art car par!
and #ar!et hall.
The (art for cattle and sheep is held on Thursdays and soon another one +ill start on alternate
Tuesdays. There are also so#e #ar!et stalls on Hridays. The eauty spot of Cenarth Halls is aout three
#iles a+ay and the to+n is so#e eight #iles fro# the eautiful eaches of the Cardiganshire coastline.
The +o#t $eut"%ul #ecret loct"on# "n Au#trl"*
$ustralia is fa#ous for its natural eauty: the Great Barrier >eef6 Aluru6 0a!adu6 the 0i#erley.
But +hat aout the places al#ost no one goesC
Christ#as <sland is a dot in the <ndian Ocean. 4i!e any isolated island6 it is peculiar. But here this
peculiarity is especially pronounced. <t has a strange history6 an odd culture and a re#ar!aly distincti1e
iodi1ersity. Anfortunately6 it is no+ est !no+n to $ustralians si#ply as an entry point for refugees.
>e#oteness has that effect6 of distorting truth and 1alue.
Christ#as <sland is s#all Eaout 1"'!#
2
F and little;populated Eaout 26... per#anent residentsF. <t
has een settled only since the 1//.sD for #uch of the period since then it +as ad#inistered y the Straits
Settle#ent ESingaporeF6 +ith inclusion as an $ustralian territory only since 1G'/. 8hosphate #ining +as the
reason for its settle#ent6 and has persisted as the #ain Eso#eti#es onlyF industry e1er since6 leading to loss
of aout 2'I of the <sland&s rainforest area.
Christ#as <sland: a dot in the <ndian Ocean6 ut i#portant nonetheless.
>eflecting that history6 its ethnic #a!e;up is no+ #ainly Chinese and (alay Earising fro# +or!ers
i#ported as Jcool"e#KF. The s#all co##unity is re#ar!aly 1irant and tolerant: there can&t e any other
place in $ustralia +ith t+o pulic holidays per year celerating Christian holy days6 t+o for (usli# holy
days and t+o for Chinese festi1als.
The call to prayer rings out o1er the co##unity fro# the s#all #os@ueD e1eryone is +elco#e at
the Chinese festi1als.
Christ#as <sland is old. <t is a 1olcanic sea#ount island6 rugged and isolated6 rising #ore than %!#
fro# the deep sea floor6 +ith the nearest land eing La1a6 aout ").!# distant. O1er the long period of its
isolation6 these features ha1e crafted a uni@ue en1iron#ent. <t is characterised y high le1els of ende#is#
for #any groups and idiosyncratic ecological structuring.
3
(ost of its reptiles6 nati1e #a##als6 and terrestrial irds occur Eor occurredF no+here elseD and
nearly 2.. in1erterate species are considered ende#ic. There are 1ery fe+ areas in $ustralia Eindeed6 in
the +orldF that can #atch such narro+ ende#is#.
<t is also a ha1en for seairds6 recogni=ed internationally for such significance. <t is the only
reeding site for the threatened A$$ott(# Boo$y and Chr"#t+# I#ln! Fr",te$"r!6 and for the
e2@uisitely eautiful golden;coloured suspecies of Wh"te-t"le! Tro'"c$"r! E+hich graces the
<sland&s %l,F. These seairds and others soar and float ao1e the settle#ent6 and nest in and around it.
Hringing the <sland is a rich coral reef6 and its clear +ar# +aters are ho#e to #ore than ).. fish species6
+ith regular 1isits y Whle Shr&#.
These 1alues +ould readily #eet 3orld *eritage criteria. But6 e2cept a#ong so#e t+itches6 !een
to 1isit to uild their $ustralian ird lists6 these attriutes are little !no+n to #ost $ustralians. <nstead6
Christ#as <sland&s nature is !no+n6 if at all6 #ainly y reference to its land cras. <n staggering aundance6
di1ersity and ecological potency6 these are indeed re#ar!ale.
The ende#ic Re! Cr$ is the #ost conspicuous6 +ith a population of at least %. #illion. <t is the
<sland&s ecological lynch'"n6 engineering the forest structure and producti1ity. <t is e1ery+hereD ut
spectacularly so in its nnul $ree!"n, +",rt"on fro# forest to sea6 +hen the forest floor6 roads and
gardens eco#e #o1ing #asses of cra: one of the +orld&s great ani#al #igrations.
There are #any other land cra species present6 ut none #ore strangely chr"#+t"c n!
en",+t"c than the Ro$$er .or Coconut/ Cr$6 the +orld&s largest terrestrial in1erterate. This species6
gro+ing up to four !ilogra#s6 +as for#erly aundant on #any other islands6 ut has een greatly reduced
or lost fro# #ost places6 and Christ#as <sland no+ represents its #ajor stronghold.
Hor the >oer Cra and other species6 la+s6 large areas of retained nati1e 1egetation6 li#ited
hu#an population6 and a large national par! Eco#prising )"I of the <sland areaF offer unusual le1els of
protection. But prole#s for Christ#as <sland&s iodi1ersity are #ore insidious and deep;rooted.
>eflecting the do#inance of the phosphate #ining industry o1er its settled area Eand conse@uential
disregard for its natural 1aluesF6 the <sland has had little or no @uarantine or iosecurity syste#. <t has een
the fate of #ost islands +orld+ide6 +ith i#pacts often pronounced and fatal ecause of s#all island si=e
Eand conse@uently s#all and tenuous populations of ende#ic speciesF. Once the isolation that has #oulded
the iota is reached6 that iodi1ersity #ay e doo#ed.
No+6 the <sland supports nearly as #any introduced as nati1e species6 and the introduced species
include #any of the +orld&s #ost pernicious in1aders.
The #ost prole#atic is the 9ello+ Cra=y $nt. Huelled in part y resources pro1ided y super;
aundant in1asi1e scale insects6 it for#s i##ense super colonies +ithin +hich all >ed Cras Eand #uch
other iodi1ersityF are destroyed.
<n1asi1e Giant Centipedes6 Giant $frican 4and snails6 gec!oes and 3olf Sna!es co#pete +ith or
consu#e nati1e species.
Such loss in turn disrupts the narro+ly;ased ecological functionality6 leading to Jin1asional
#eltdo+nK or ecological collapse. The #ost recent #anifestation of this collapse6 in 2..G6 +as the
e2tinction of the Chr"#t+# I#ln! P"'"#trelle Ereducing the original co#ple#ent of fi1e ende#ic #a##al
species to just one #'ec"e# !no+n to ha1e persistedF. Others +ill follo+: the Chr"#t+# I#ln! Fore#t
S&"n& is !no+n no+ fro# only one indi1idual6 e!ing out its solitary e2istence in a cage.
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These prole#s are eing addressed6 y intensi1e and e2tensi1e aiting +hich te#porarily reduces
the nu#er of cra=y ants6 y capti1e reeding for t+o ende#ic reptile species no+ al#ost lost fro# the
+ild6 and y research that ai#s to find #ore enduring and effecti1e #ethods for control of so#e of the
pests and +eeds. But the challenge is i##ense.
This is a #ost re#ar!ale isolated +orld. <n such a s#all place there is so #uch that is uni@ue6
inspiring and +onderful. <t has e2isted little changed for #illions of yearsD ut its natural en1iron#ent is
no+ dissol1ing at a rapid rate. <t +ill ring you #uch delight and sorro+.
A+er"c0# 1o#t Beut"%ul H"!!en Ge+#
Hro# 9ose#ite to the E1erglades6 the A.S. oasts +orld;fa#ous land#ar!s. But +e5re also a land
of 1irtually undisco1ered stretches of par!land and in1iting to+ns s#ac! in the #iddle of paradise. *ere6
Budget Tra1el presents so#e of the #ost gorgeous par!s and s#all to+ns you51e ne1er heard of.
Ne1ada5s 7alley of Hire State 8ar! is one of the #ost eautiful spots in the A.S.
Can you !eep a secretC <f you5re loo!ing for a +orld;class 1acation #inus the cro+ds6 Budget
Tra1el has got a hot tip. 3ell6 actually +e51e got 1. of the#. O1er the past year +e51e 1isited so#e of
$#erica5s #ost a#a=ing par!lands and uni@ue s#all to+ns. Stretching across the A.S.6 our list of eautiful
hidden ge#s includes ocean spray6 lapping la!eshores6 forests6 #ountains6 and so#e of the nicest hosts
you5ll e1er #eet. 3hat all these places ha1e in co##on is that you #ight ha1e ne1er heard of the#
+ithout BT5s spilling the eans. Enjoy:
2lley o% F"re Stte Pr&
Ne)!
One of the state5s est;lo1ed par!s is the 7alley of Hire6 %26... arid acres aout an hour5s dri1e
northeast fro# 4as 7egas. The par! deli1ers its o+n !ind of high;sta!es dra#a6 trading neon and
nightclus for 1'.;#illion;year;old sandstone for#ations and "6...;year;old petroglyphs Ei#ages car1ed in
roc!F. 9ou could e1en say it has star @uality: The surreal6 urnt;sienna landscape stood in for (ars in the
1GG. #o1ieTotal >ecall. <f you5re e#ar!ing on your o+n photo safari or M<9 sci;fi flic! in Ne1ada5s
largest state par!6 don5t #iss $rch >oc!6 Elephant >oc!6 or the Beehi1es6 all of +hich are essentially solid;
stone 1ersions of e2actly +hat they sound li!e. $nd e sure to ta!e snapshots +ith and +ithout people in
the fra#eNthe structures are e1en #ore outstanding +hen you can get a sense of their scale. (ost
i#portant of all: Bring lots of +ater +ith you. There are fe+ facilities +ithin the par!6 and the sandy
stretches of so#e hi!es #a!e the# #ore strenuous than you5d thin!6 particularly in the su##er6 +hen
(oja1e Mesert te#peratures top 12. degrees. Best to co#e in spring or fall for a #ore co#fortale trip.
Beaufort
North Crol"n
Captain *oratio Sinad is +hat you #ight call a friendly pirate. *e5s got si2 cannons on his '%;foot
rigantine6 the (e!a <<6 ut he5s also got 3i;Hi. *e5s got a gold tooth and a gold hoop in his left ear6 ut his
#ate lo1ingly +ears the #atching earring on a chain around her nec! Eand rings hi# coffee on dec!F. *e
#a!es his li1ing as a pirate6 sailing the East Coast to lead #oc! in1asionsN?historical entertain#ents6? as
he calls the#Nthen dutifully returns to Beaufort6 N.C.6 e1ery chance he gets. ?The +ater is clean6 the
fishing is great6 and the people are friendly6? he says. ?This is ho#e port for #e.? <f you5d just dropped into
Beaufort6 you #ight e surprised to find that a pirate has +eighed anchor there. 8erched on an especially
serene stretch of the North Carolina coast6 the to+n has an air of Southern gentility aout it6 +ith restored
1-th; and 1/th;century uildings that flan! the local historical society. Heeling a shi1er in your ti#ersC $
cup of rich gu#o and a slice of salty6 pillo+;soft Hrench read at the Beaufort Grocery restaurant and
a!ery +ill +ar# you up nicely E11- Bueen St.6 cup of gu#o O%.2'F. There5s e1en a thri1ing health;food
5
store6 the Coastal Co##unity (ar!et E).) Broad St. 6 locally #ade hu##us O%F. $nd yet Beaufort5s got a
+ild side6 starting +ith the undo#esticated horses you5ll see roa#ing just across Taylors Cree!. Blac!eard
hi#self sailed those +aters6 and his spirit pops up at the North Carolina (ariti#e (useu# E"1' Hront St.6
ad#ission freeF6 the Bueen $nne5s >e1enge restaurant E'1. Hront St.6 cra;stuffed shri#p O1'F6 and
eyond. <f he +ere ali1e6 you5d al#ost certainly find hi# on a stool at the Bac!street 8u6 a di1e;ar;li!e
joint that also ser1es as a li1e;#usic 1enue and a lending lirary for sailors. O+ner 4i= 0opf li!es to call
her place the fun!iest ar fro# (aine to 7ene=uela: ?< al+ays say there are #ore characters per capita in
here than any+here in the state? E12% (iddle 4ane6 eer O2 on (ondays and TuesdaysF.
1&e your e#c'e to the +o#t +y#ter"ou# 'lce# "n Cn!
Cn!(# Won!erln! #ight e a last6 and the Al$ert B!ln!# are rich in history6 ut if you&re in
search of so#e real ad1enture6 loo! no further: 3e&1e got a list of !oo!y6 une3'l"ne! +y#tery #'ot# fro#
across our great country. 8rogra# these places into your 1yFor! Touch na1igation syste#6 and let your
inner in1estigator out to play.
4et&s get going.
The Tre#ure P"t o% O& I#ln!4 N*S*
Hirst disco1ered in 1-G'6 the (oney 8it of Oa! <sland +as stu#led upon y 1);year;old Maniel
(cGuinnis. Anco1ered on the first e2ca1ation +as a stone talet that read6 JHorty feet elo+ here 2 #illion
pounds is uried.K Spoo!y6 rightC
Since then nu#erous tea#s ha1e tried6 and failed6 to unco1er the alleged treasure6 encountering strange oa!
platfor#s6 floods and a see#ingly endless pit. Theories as to +hat&s do+n there include the treasure of
pirates li!e Captain 0idd and 3illia# Treach Ea.!.a. Blac!eardF6 Hrench na1al treasure6 (arie
$ntoinette&s stolen je+els6 e1en a lost Hree#ason 1ault.
Others say that&s there nothing do+n thereD it&s just a syste# of sin!holes and ca1es. But +hy not find out
for yourself:
The Le+on Gol! 1"ne
This is a classic tale of lost riches6 greed and #urder. 4egend has it t+o prospectors6 !no+n only as
JBlac!jac!K and Hran! 4e#on6 stu#led upon the #other lode of gold so#e+here in $lerta near
Cro+snest 8ass.
3hile they edded do+n for the night to decide +hat to do +ith their ne+ fortune6 4e#on set upon his
sleeping partner +ith an a2e. >ac!ed +ith grief6 he +as ne1er ale to return to that spot6 nor lead anyone
else ac! to the site +here the gold +as disco1ered.
O,o'o,o o% L&e O&n,n4 BC
(uch li!e it&s Scottish sister the 4och Ness (onster6 the Ogopogo joins the ran!s of unconfir#ed la!e
#onsters docu#ented y grainy photos and sha!y ca#eras. <t earned its na#e in 1G2%6 pre1iously eing
referred to as N&ha;a;it!6 or la!e de#on6 y the O!ana!ane.
Hirst sighted in 1/-26 old Oggie has +or!ed its +ay into the faric of Canadian fol!lore6 appearing in
tele1ision6 oo!s and e1en court cases o1er the years.
Crypto=oologoists ha1e suggested it #ay e a for# of pri#iti1e serpentine +hale li!e a Basilosaurus. Trust
us6 scientists are al+ays right:
6
So +hat is itC $ dinosaur or #onsterC Ta!e a day trip south of 0elo+na and see if you can&t settle the
dispute yourself: <f you do6 #a!e sure you co#e ac! here and lea1e us a co##ent letting us !no+ +hat
you&1e found.
But possily the iggest #ystery of the# allP
The Cr+"l& Secret
8ossily the #ost enduring #ystery to e1er pass the lips of any Canadian6 the Cara#il! Secret has eluded
Hree#ason scientists6 religious s!eptics and <llu#inati spies for decades.
(anufactured at a secret underground location Eso#e reports suggest so#e+here on the +est side of
TorontoF6 the Cara#il! ar flies in the face of logic.
Her"t,e o% Ne5 6eln!
L"ttle-&no5n her"t,e #"te# o%%er tntl"#"n, ,l"+'#e "nto the '#t %or tho#e 5ho t&e the
trou$le to %"n! the+*
The K"'r North He! L",hthou#e
Mescried as one of the #ost e1ocati1e places on earth6 the 0aipara North *ead 4ighthouse has tre#endous
historical and archaeological significance. Built in 1//%6 it is one of the fe+ re#aining ti#er lighthouses
in Ne+ ,ealand. Loc! 3ills6 lighthouse custodian6 #aster story;teller and so#ething of a local identity6 is
the sole !eeper of the !eys and also ta!es guided tours of the Category << site.
JThe lighthouse is an iconD there&s a lot of history tied up in the area6K he says. *e tells of the unorthodo2
origins of the three;storeyed sentinel that sits o1er the treacherous 0aipara ar on the +est coast of
Northland +here the harour has recorded #ore ship+rec!s than any+here else in Ne+ ,ealand. The
lighthouse differs fro# others of its il! ecause its +alls6 oth internal and e2ternal6 are #ade of !auri. <ts
construction +as uncon1entional too. $fter the ti#er +as #illed locally it +as shipped across to Sydney to
e pre;cut efore eing returned in !itset for#. The +ay Loc! sees it6 it&s a #ar1el it +as erected +ithout
the use of helicopters.
The +aters it guards once carried a hea1y shipping trade and eca#e the focus for the +idespread
e2ploitation of !auri ti#er in the late 1Gth and early 2.th centuries. The lighthouse stands on a sandstone
outcrop aout /!# fro# the nearest settle#ent of 8outo6 an area do#inated y large6 drifting sand dunes.
JThe people +ho #anned the 0aipara lighthouse +ere the hardest;+or!ing lighthouse !eepers in the
country6K Loc! says. <f they +eren&t setting the light6 they +ere s+eeping sand out of the uilding or lining
up the #ar!ers that allo+ed the ships to co#e in on the correct channel.
No+ in his -.s6 Loc! has li1ed in the district since 1G"/. *e runs a 2.2;ha far# in (ahuta Gap6 -.;odd
!ilo#etres a+ay6 ut considers the lighthouse a little li!e his o+n ac!yard. *e regularly journeys to 8outo
8oint to pic! up 1isitors +ho&1e oo!ed a tour of the lighthouse and its sand;drenched surrounds. <t&s not
the easiest place to reach.
Tourists either tra1el y oat fro# *elens1ille or 8ort $lert or ta!e the one;hour dri1e fro# Marga1ille.
Then the journey proper egins. The hardy can ta!e the t+o;hour +al! fro# 8outo 8oint6 finishing +ith an
energetic 1';#inute hi!e up the sand dunes to reach the lighthouse or they can choose the chauffeured
option in one of Loc!&s 8olaris rangers +hich deli1ers the# to the lighthouse ase. Once there6 they can
cli# to the top and loo! out fro# the do#e.
The lighthouse has een deco##issioned ut little else has changed. The sand still lo+s as hard as e1er
and although there&s no+ no need for horses to e called in to shift it Eas the lighthouse !eeper used to +hen
ig stor#s le+F the effects are still profound. There are days +hen it&s not +ise to atte#pt the tre!6 says
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Loc!. J<f you didn&t hide fro# the stor#6 you could e sandlasted yourself +hen the s@ualls ca#e.K *e
tells of a couple +ho +ere deter#ined to #a!e the journey6 despite a threatening stor#. JThey +anted to
co#e ecause one of their grandparents used to e on the supply ship *ine#oa. $t 2p# there +as so #uch
sand lo+ing it +as li!e e1ening.K
But the lighthouse re#ains a grand spot. JOn a fine day there&s such a eautiful outloo!. Straight across is
South *ead and if you could see o1er the cur1e you could see $ustralia.K So#e+hat closer are the re#ains
of a !auri forest and neary is 8retty Bush Q %.ha of nati1e ush sought out y otanists ut re@uiring a
per#it to 1isit. JThere are species there un!no+n to the#6K Lac! says. *e sees all types on his tours ut
e1eryone lea1es +ith the sa#e senti#ents. J$ll the people +ho co#e to the lighthouse are a#a=ed. They
say if they&d !no+n aout it sooner6 they +ould ha1e een here soonerD it&s such a special place.K
2"#"t"n, the l",hthou#e7 The lighthouse is in an historic reser1e #anaged y the Ne+ ,ealand *istoric
8laces Trust. 4ocated )-!# south;east of Marga1ille Eeyond 8outoF6 the e2terior can e 1ie+ed at any
ti#e6 +ith access fro# the each. To arrange a tour +ith Loc! 3ills6 contact hi# on E.GF %"G ))-/.
The S'r"n,)le Br"!,e
3hether seen fro# the ri1er eneath it or on the road that leads to it6 the Spring1ale Bridge represents a
+ealth of ro#ance6 hard +or! and history. There&s archaeological e1idence of #oa eing hunted on the site
and 1Gth;century European tra1ellers forded the >angiti!ei >i1er here.
Today Spring1ale Suspension Bridge on the Napier to Taihape road is registered as a Category << historic
place. Built in 1G22;2'6 it carried traffic for %' years efore eing replaced y the ne+ ridge that runs
alongside. $#ong locals +ho still re#e#er the ridge in its heyday6 G';year;old 4ou Ca#pell #o1ed to
the area as a shepherd +hen the ridge +as 1. years old. *e recalls crossing it fro# Nga#atea to play
rugy in Taihape Q a t+o;hour journey ac! then. 4ou&s daughter 3endy relates his account of approaching
the ridge fro# Taihape y truc!. JThe road +as largely #ud and 1ery steep.
The dri1ers had to ac! up and ha1e t+o atte#pts at getting do+n the hill and on to the ridge.K The
Ca#pell fa#ily li1ed on neary Spring1ale Station and 3endy has childhood #e#ories of eeling and
s+i##ing in the >angiti!ei >i1er under the ridge. JHa#ilies fro# neighouring properties +ould tra1el
do+n y car or the station truc! and ha1e a picnic. <t is a 1ery pictures@ue area6K she says.
The ridge is regarded as an e2cellent engineering e2a#ple of its !ind. (ade of reinforced concrete to+ers
and hard+ood ti#er stiffening trusses6 it is no+ elie1ed to e one of only three still standing and intact.
<ts designers proaly +eren&t thin!ing of fourlegged traffic +hen they had it on the dra+ing oard ut the
ridge6 for all its con1enience6 still pro1ided headaches for so#e. $s 3endy e2plains: J<nstead of using the
ri1er6 as they once did6 far#ers used the ridge to ta!e stoc! across. But ecause it +as a s+ing ridge6
cattle and sheep didn&t li!e it and they +ould stop in the #iddle.K The far#ers +ould call on #ore placid
JhouseK co+s fro# the adjacent Otupae >i1er Cottage to lead the +ilder stoc! across. $s neighouring
stations +ere de1eloped and +ith the ad1ent of top dressing and culti1ation6 stoc! nu#ers gre+ and y the
1G'.s truc!s +ere used to carry the# across. But again the ridge had its li#itations. JGetting on +as fine
Q ut it +as so narro+ you&d see +ool tufts hanging on to the olts6K e2plains 3endy.
Thirty !ilo#etres of the 1'.!# Napier;Taihape >oad are unsealed and can e a one sha!er e1en in a
#odern car. But +hile the ridge is fairly re#ote6 it is not forgotten. Earlier this year an infor#ation panel
telling its story +as installed y the Ne+ ,ealand *istoric 8laces Trust. The ridge is still open to
pedestrian traffic and it is still a fine fishing spot.
2"#"t"n, the $r"!,e7 The ridge is located on the Napier;Taihape >oad Ealso !no+n as Gentle $nnie
>oadF6 appro2i#ately %1.'!# fro# Taihape.
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1tn& Fr+
Lohnny Lones estalished (atana!a6 Otago&s earliest far#6 in 1/%"D today 8aul Too#ey and his +ife
$layca far# the property. The fa#ilies are not related ut the pioneering efforts of Lohnny Lones are a
constant re#inder to 8aul as he goes aout his +or!.
The far# uildings erected y Lohnny still stand on the 2G.ha property. They include stales Estill +ith the
original R8atented Gal1anised Tinned <ron& roof F6 a schoolhouse6 stale6 granary and three;seater pri1y.
These uildings are regarded as outstandingly significant. $nd although they&re on the Too#ey far#6 they
are open to the pulic Ethe N,*8T pro1ides a car par!6 a 1.;#inute +al! a+ayF. $ 1isit offers considerale
insight into the early de1elop#ent of Otago and the stories ehind the #an responsile.
Originally fro# Sydney6 Lohnny Lones +as a trader6 +haler and ship o+ner and his interests +ere 1ast. <n
1/"/ he ought a +haling station and parcel of land at 3ai!ouati. Soon after he +as encouraging
Sydneysiders to #o1e to 3ai!ouati6 thus estalishing the first organised settle#ent on the east coast of the
South <sland. 3hen +haling interest declined6 Lohnny successfully s+itched his attentions to far#ing.
*is #e#ory still lingers. 8aul says: J< see hi# as an entrepreneur. *e o+ned all the land around the
to+nship. So#e people feel hard done y hi#D so#e say he rought things for+ard.K
(atana!a sits on a headland o1erloo!ing 3ai!ouati. Beneath it are the (atana!a Ca1es6 a sea;!aya!ing
site Eut not accessile fro# the far#F. The original ho#estead6 the oldest house in Otago6 still stands ut is
off;li#its to the pulic.
Hour generations of the Too#ey fa#ily ha1e li1ed in the district. 8aul&s parents ought (atana!a in 1GG1
+hen he +as 1'D +hen his father died t+o years ago6 he and $layca too! o1er o+nership E8aul&s #other is
uilding a ne+ ho#e ut currently li1es in the (atana!a ho#esteadF. $s he gets older6 8aul finds hi#self
thin!ing #ore aout Lohnny Lones and all he acco#plished. J<t&s interesting to thin! aout ho+ they coped
co#pared +ith +hat +e do no+6K he says. JThey did all the things +e do today ut +ithout #achines. Of
course no+ it&s just the t+o of us6 co#pared +ith lots #ore ac! then.K
2"#"t"n, the %r+7 The (atana!a far# uildings are located off State *igh+ay 16 north of 3ai!ouiti. Turn
on to Edinurgh Street and follo+ the pri1ate road to the car par!. <t is a 1.;#inute +al! along the trac! to
reach the uildings.
The Cu!!y
To li1e at Te 3ai#ate is to e i##ersed in a rich history. To 1isit is to find a fa#ily passionate aout their
heritage and happy to share oth the sights and stories surrounding the#.
The 1.12ha station on State *igh+ay /2 in 3ai#ate6 South Canterury6 has een in the Studhol#e fa#ily
since rothers Lohn6 (ichael and 8aul Studhol#e arri1ed in Ne+ ,ealand in 1/'%. Co#ing fro# a s#all
English 1illage +ith the sa#e na#e6 they +ere the first European settlers in the 3ai#ate district. Current
o+ners Lan and (ichael Studhol#e are the fourth generation to li1e on the land.
The Cuddy +as the original ho#e for the rothers. <t sits in the garden just 2'# fro# the #ain house6
+hich itself occupies the sa#e site as the first ho#estead. 3ith its eaten clay floor6 1ertical Totara slas6
lac! #aire rafters and thatched roof6 The Cuddy pro1ided shelter to the Studhol#e rothers for si2 years
efore a larger house +as uilt in 1/)..
Lan Studhol#e refers to the foreears as Jthe oysK. $nd6 indeed6 they +ere still in their teens +hen they
arri1ed and uilt their first si#ple d+elling. JThey +ould e astonished to see it still standing today
ecause it +as just a hut6K she says. The Cuddy is not the only historic uilding that can e 1isited at the
station. Not far a+ay is a s#all ric! uilding that +as used as a crea#ery and apple house. Hurther out are
the old ric! stales Euilt in 1///F6 a +oolshed Euilt in 1/')F6 a stoc!#an&s cottage and a granary. The
9
+oolshed6 +ith its original #anu!a;railed holding pens still in place6 is regarded as one of the oldest
+or!ing +oolsheds in Ne+ ,ealand. There&s a (aori storehouse E+hataF too. Not all the uildings ha1e
sur1i1ed. The original ho#estead +as destroyed y fire in 1G2/ Ealthough The Cuddy +as untouchedF and
the shearers& @uarters urned do+n se1en years ago.
Lan says the fa#ily is 1ery pri1ileged to !no+ its history. J8eople say Raren&t you luc!y6 you&1e got it all
sitting here& and it is a 1ery eautiful setting.K 3ith such strong and enduring connections6 the Studhol#es
don&t see a change of o+nership for the station. J3hen the property&s een in the fa#ily so long6 you feel
oliged not to sell.K
2"#"t"n, The Cu!!y7 3hile The Cuddy has een ga=etted as a pri1ate historic reser1e and is ad#inistered
y the Ne+ ,ealand *istoric 8laces Trust6 Te 3ai#ate Station is pri1ately o+ned and not open to the
pulic.
Conclu#"on#*
$s one #ay oser1e6 our +orld is full of unearth and undisco1ered eauties +hich are +aiting to e lighten
up and e2plored. <t is a#a=ing ho+ #any places are hidden et+een geographical features and lind eyes.
The challenge is not only to e ale to disco1er and un1eil the#. <t is #ore aout eing ale to understand
their true 1alue and i#portance for the hu#anity and for touris# as +ell. This article guides us to an
a#a=ing another +orld +e can get in touch and e2plore:::
B"$l"o,r'hy7
http:SS+++.theguardian.co#Stra1elS2..GSaprS.%Stra1el;ritain;iain;sinclair;oo!s
http:SS+++.ne+s.co#.auStra1elSaustralian;holidaysSthe;secret;australia;you1e;ne1er;seenSstory;e)frf@/G;
122))..)111.1
http://blog.ford.ca/2012/07/23/make-your-ecape-to-the-mot-myter!ou-place-!"-ca"ada/
http://###.h!tor!c.org."$/%ubl!cat!o"/&er!tage'()aga$!"e/&er!tage'$2009/&'(09-
*ecret.ap+
http://###.mh.com.au/tra,el/ecret-pot-10-place-you-#!ll-"e,er-,!!t-20130311-2f,ll.html
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