New train station planned for Rochester

A new station for residents in Rochester could help improve train services.

Network Rail plans to move the current station to a new site to allow more passengers to use the station, and allow for a more reliable, quicker service.

The current station, just off Rochester High Street, has few car parking spaces and platforms that can only accommodate 10-carriage trains.

With regeneration on Rochester Riverside already underway, passenger numbers are expected to rise by 30% over the next few years, meaning the current station will be inadequate to support the growing population.

Addressing these figures, Network Rail have proposed to move the current station to Corporation Road Car Park as part of a £25million investment in rail infrastructure.

With more car parking spaces and longer platforms accommodating for 12-carriage and more passengers, it is hoped the plan will prove a hit with the local council and local people.

Councillor Rodney Chambers, Medway Council Leader and Regeneration Lead, said: “If this proposal gets the go ahead it will lead to a new, better train station for Rochester

“It will result in a quicker, more reliable service with more space for passengers,” he added.

The station would be closer to the main town centre then the current station, with a new subway planned to link the station to the shopping parade. Train users would also benefit from being closer to the main bus routes running through the town.

If approved, the station would take up 1/3 of the land on Corporation Road, and would be scheduled to open in 2015.

It is believed Network Rail will submit a planning application for the proposals later this year.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Wolves, bears, guns and tornadoes: the Leon McCarron story

Former Kent film graduate turned adventurer Leon McCarron visited the University of Kent to talk about his adventures as a cameraman travelling through the USA and China. Kieran Watkins reports on the highs and lows of his trek.
Imagine walking across the Gobi Desert with only your shadow for company. What about trekking through the Australian outback as the blistering sun scorches your back? Or maybe even running into a tornado, away from a mad man wielding a gun in America?

Unbelievable you might think, but for former University of Kent student Leon McCarron, 25, they are just some of the more memorable moments of a three year travel expedition which has seen him cycle and walk across the globe.

Speaking to students and members of the public at a bustling Woolf College tonight (Wednesday, October 3) at the Canterbury campus, Leon spoke passionately about his journey from New York to Hong Kong with enough excitement to entice the whole crowd to book an adventure holiday. But for the former Film student, who graduated in 2008 with a first class honours degree, it was something much more than just a holiday.

Commenting on his early university years, Leon, from Northern Ireland but now living in London, said: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life after school.”

“So I came to university”, he added. “And I really enjoyed Kent. In fact, I felt unhappy about leaving university after the three years.”

The film degree provided Leon with one of the happiest things in his life; the skill of filming and knowing how to document stories through the camera. Combined with his love of travel, it wasn’t long before Leon set his sights on travelling the world.

“The creativity from filming is great, and practising documenting and filming is one of the happiest memories of my life,” he said.
Having already toured the UK on a bike at just 15 years-old and later Europe at the age of 16, Leon had set his sights on foreign territory.

He said: “There’s something very liberating about being on a bike.”

His friend, Howard Thurman who he travelled with across Europe, gave him the drive to continue his travels.

“Howard said to me, ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it because what the world needs is people who have come alive’ and that inspired me”, he said.
So in 2010, he set off to New York where he would travel over 14,000 miles on a bicycle to Hong Kong. Dubbed ‘the Cycling Reporter’, he planned to meet and interview people along the way.

At first, the journey seemed an unachievable, complex task that even Leon worried he would not be able to complete.

“There were times during the early stages when I tried not to cry myself to sleep,” he admitted.

The USA proved an interesting start for Leon. Encountering bears at night and visiting events including the ‘Testicle Festival’ in Montana – where festival goers can sample various animal testicles – proved to be memorable, but one encounter topped all other memories. What started out as a short stay at a ranch in the Mid-West by a man offering him shelter later led to Leon running for his life.

 
“I was about to pitch my tent one night when a man, Eric, in a truck pulls over and offers me a place to stay”, Leon said. “It was dark and Eric said a storm was coming, and so I agreed to go with him to his ranch.”

However Leon’s stay at the ranch didn’t last long. After a ‘near-explosive’ episode in a shed with a friend of Eric’s and a whole load of guns, Leon quickly fled the ranch in fear of his own life – straight into the approaching tornado.

“I was running away from these men and their guns without noticing I was running straight into a volcano,” he told.

“That incident was the scariest thing that happened to me over my three years of travelling.”

Leaving America behind, Leon visited Canada before being given free flights and travel across New Zealand by the New Zealand tourist board. He spent six weeks touring the North and South Island before flying over to Australia, and onwards to Thailand and Asia, finally arriving in Hong Kong on March 5, 2011.

It was quite an achievement for someone, who at the age of 23, was still struggling to find his real goal in life.

“Despite having no job, no money and feeling very tired, the trip changed my life,” said Leon. “In fact, travelling around the world made my life.”
It took Leon just over a year to cycle from New York to Hong Kong, travelling a staggering 14,325 miles across three continents.

But there was no time to put his feet up. Meeting up with a friend Rob Lilwall, they both decided to walk the impossible; a 3,000 mile walk from North China back down to Hong Kong in the South.

This time, Leon would be filming his expedition for National Geographic. Setting off with Rob just six months after his gruelling cycle, Leon admitted he initially struggled to qualm his nerves.

“Flying over China towards the Mongolia, we looked out on the land we would be passing”, he told.

“For every three minutes travelling on the plane, it equalled a whole day of walking.

“So for every 30 minutes in the sky, that meant a month of walking,” he added.
Setting off from Mongolia, the pair’s first test came as they crossed through the Gobi Desert. With temperatures falling to a chilling -50c in some parts and only the wolves for company, the duo pushed through on to the Great Wall of China, with only a small trailer and back packs carrying their belongings.

Commenting on their few resources, Leon said: “You get used to living a simple life, everything we needed was on the trailer.”

“At one point, I went without a wash for 16 days!” he added.

It was over Christmas when disaster struck the duo. After sending footage from the first leg of their journey to National Geographic, Leon received the devastating news that the images obtained from his camera were too blurry. Subsequently, they would be unfit for broadcast.

What was more; Rob had sustained a foot injury, meaning the pair had to delay their trek for three long weeks.

Talking about the difficult period, Leon said: “It proved to be the worst period of my life.”

“The last six weeks of filming had been in vain, and I was now worried about Rob and the possibility we wouldn’t be able to film a TV programme,” he added.

However it didn’t hinder the pair from continuing their trip. In three weeks the pair were up and away, heading South as they interacted with the locals, learned a bit of Mandarin and even celebrated Chinese New Year after being invited in by a family.
On March 26, 2012, the pair arrived in Hong Kong after six long and difficult months. It took them 195 days in total, and despite a few uncomfortable moments with the local police – they were arrested 15 times during the trek – they had completed it.

Summing up the achievement, Leon said: “You never feel more alive until you’re about to fall off a cliff in China!”

“The world really is an exciting place, and opportunities come in lots of forms.”

Confessing to having well and truly caught the travelling bug, Leon plans to hike again over Christmas, this time from the Empty Quarter in Oman – the largest sand desert in the world - to Dubai. The 1,000 mile trek should take six weeks to complete. He also plans to write a book about his journey in the future.

Providing the audience with one last though, Leon said: “Embrace opportunity and embrace change.”

To find out more about Leon’s travels, visit www.leonmccarron.com or www.walkinghomefrommongolia.com. A four-part series filmed on the China trek is scheduled to be shown this Christmas on National Geographic in the UK.

First picture taken from Leon McCarron online

The Spain Diaries: No.2 - sun, swimming and…more sun and swimming!

It’s safe to say that when you go on holiday, you expect to relax. In fact, when you go to Spain, it should be pretty much guaranteed. With the gorgeous sunshine, sizzling temperatures and stunning scenery, there’s no better way to watch the world go by then sunbathing in the Costa Del Sol.

And that’s exactly what I did do when I arrived in Spain on a recent holiday. After completing my first year at university, I wanted nothing more but to get away and forget about my impending results. Staying with family in the Spanish countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the UK, and the Internet, I was able to relax and unwind.

Despite coming over to Spain several times in the past to see my Grandparents, who live in a very traditional, quaint Spanish village called Tapia in the heart of the Costa Del Sol, the area never fails to amaze me. Mountains in the distance, covered in olive groves in between which are tiny casa’s and villages, all majestically dazzling in the sunshine. Paradise right!?

Paradise indeed. As we sat, drinking ice cold cervezas from the pool, we couldn’t help but laugh at the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere the locals seem to embrace. The Spain we see on the news might be rocked by riots and financial ruin, but it’s not apparent when you’re over here. Despite the hardship, all the people are friendly and welcoming, smiling and nodding “ buenos tardes” and what not throughout the day.

But with temperatures this high - high 40’s most days - who has time for small talk? The only way to enjoy this weather is a dip in the pool, looking out at the glorious views and enjoying the company of your family. As my pictures show, I did just that!

 

Previous Spain Diary entries:

- No.1 - the BA experience

The New Zealand Diaries: No.15 - Jump for your life!

Last week I left my diary entry from New Zealand on a bit of a cliffhanger; did I bungee jump, or did I back out?

Well I couldn’t leave you ‘hanging’ could I, which coincidentally was what I was doing when I decided to bite the bullet and jump for my life off of a bridge in Queenstown earlier this year during my holiday in New Zealand.

When my Dad booked the tickets for my brother and I to fly over to New Zealand, he immediately asked whether we would both do a bungee jump. I was apprehensive, the thought of plunging down form a bridge tied by an elasticated chord terrified me, yet I was intrigued. Not only would it make me extremely proud with myself if I did it, it would also surprise and shock my family, who had always assumed my sporty brother would do it, not me.

So when I boarded the plane for New Zealand, I was determined I would do it. And with three weeks to calm my nerves, I finally agreed to jump off the Kawarau Bridge on the outskirts of Queenstown. Hidden amongst the mountains, the Bridge was situated 47 metres above the clearest, bluest river I had ever seen, which helped calm my nerves a little (well, if the rope snapped, at least the water would cushion my fall!) However, once looking down from the bridge and watching other fearless people jumping off the bridge, my nerves got the better of me and I started taking back all I had said about being “confident” and “reborn” - but too late, it was booked and I was tied up ready to jump.

The actual experience happened all too quickly, with your life in the hands of experienced crew members who tied you up and told you what to do. With my brother jumping before me, I closed my eyes as it finally dawned on me, this is it!

With the adrenaline pumping and my stomach taking turns, I failed to listen to much of what the crew members told me. In fact, rather than just falling (you’re supposed to just fall slowly head first) I got confused and walked off! Yes, it was the wrong thing to do but in a way, it was a bit nicer because I could actually experience falling. And what a weird experience that is! The sudden realisation that you’re walking into thin air before suddenly plummeting is enough to make you sick. I quickly saw the mountains whizz past me in a blur before the rope tightened and I was upside down.

It’s when upside down that you lose control of most senses and just relax as you fall down further and further. Before you jump, you decide whether you want to touch the water, stay above it or go in for the plunge. Never one to miss the opportunity to wash my hair, I decided to take the plunge. The shock of hitting the water wakes you up, before the bungee sends you flying back up and down like a game of conkers. At one point I was certain I was going to hit the side of the mountain!

The whole thing lasts about 30 seconds. Two crew members in a dingy come out to pull you down, at which point I collapsed in the boat lost for words at what I had just done.

Climbing back up the mountain to find my family waiting in excitement at the top, I thought to myself; wow! Just wow! I had accomplished something I never thought I would do, and yet here I am, walking back up the mountain, my head drenched, my senses confused and my head spinning, with a huge smile of satisfaction on my face. It’s certainly been a story to tell my family and friends, and with the pictures as a token of the day’s adventure, it rounded off a fabulous time in Queenstown…one I would never, ever forget.

I would definitely recommend anyone who visits New Zealand or Queenstown in particular to have a go jumping. It really is the most amazing thing I have ever done, and you'll feel so good afterwards (although I don't think I could ever do it again!!)

Next time: My last blog post from New Zealand as I spend one more glorious day in Dunedin. Expect tears, costumes and Chinese Gardens!

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:

No.14 - A town fit for a Queen
No.13 - A bit of a flutter
No.12 - A day at the Museum

No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

Risky game for British Airways

I love a good commercial, and with viewers flocking to their screens for events such as the Euros and the Olympics this summer, it's gonna be a bumper year for advertising agencies. Companies are putting big amounts of money on the table to get a slice of the precious minutes of screen time available for advertisers.

Which is why I was a little confused at the new British Airways advert released this week, which urges the British public to stay at home this summer and enjoy what's on in their local area and in London.

The one minute long ad sees a British Airways plane 'drive' around London, passing all the iconic sites, before reaching a halt outside the Olympic stadium.

Ultimately, the motive behind the campaign must lie behind the sponsorship deal British Airways has for the Olympics. It's an Official Partner for the London 2012 Games, and will heavily benefit from the games, one presumes.

Maybe then, one could presume that British Airways are benefiting from new advertising campaign, maybe from the government? They would have paid millions of pounds into the London 2012 Olympic Games, so why would they risk losing more money by promoting families to stay at home and not use their planes? I'm not suggesting what they're doing is wrong, in fact I think it's right of them to promote the UK during this special year. But British Airways is a business, and business doesn't play nice - which makes me think they're getting something in return for this deal.

Who knows, all I know is that the advert and the intense advertising campaign surrounding it (British Airways is using both Facebook and Twitter to promote their new campaign) must have cost them a lot of money to pull off. Time will tell when they release their end-of-year revenue figures early next year.

You can watch the advertising campaign here. You can also check out their Facebook page and Twitter too.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

The New Zealand Diaries: No.14 - A town fit for a Queen

Throughout my time in New Zealand, I visited many different, wonderful places across the South Island. The Catlins, Dunedin, Omokau to name just a few, but perhaps the one that will stick in memory the most is my time in Queenstown.

Queenstown is a tourist haven. In the winter, it's the home of skiing and snowboarding, whereas in the summer, it becomes a paradise for thrillseekers with bungee jumping, white-water rafting and the luge, to name just a few activities. Set amongst mountains and a crystal clear lake, it really is a metropolis for all things fun.

Arriving for a three day weekend, we checked in to a traditional New Zealand lodge-style motel and made our way downtown to Fergburger, the world-famous restaurant, which you can read more about in a previous diary entry.

Strolling along the cosmopolitan high street with the sun blaring on my back, it's easy to see why toursits flock to this part of New Zealand. With a new airport conveniently located nearby, it's certainly popular and full of tourists taking pictures and enjoying the sights. The lake surrounding the town is glorious, and with the majestic mountains and clear views of the town, pictures are aplenty!

The town itself is full of gift shops and uber cool restaurants, with plenty of bars and cafes to tickle your taste buds. Queenstown even boasts its very own Louis Vuitton, which just adds to the glamour of the town. The marina attracts many tourists, and is often a hot spot for entertainers and market sellers, offering a continental feel to the area.

But, alas, the shopping and fine dining experience is not what just draws the crowds to Queenstown. No, it's the thillseeking adventure and daredevil activities that are popular. I spent my first day in Queenstown climbing the cable car or gondola as it's known there up to the foot of the mountain.

At the top, the views are phenomenal. You can see the whole of Queenstown and the surrounding landscape from here, and they were certainly some of the best views I have ever seen. The top of the mountain boasts various activities, as well as a large restaurant and shop. From bungee jumping to mountain biking, the impressive array of things offers something for everyone.

Being a thrill seeker and a believer that you really only do live once, I accepted my Dad's invitation to race down the luge. The luge is like a go-kart track but with weird sledges instead of actual carts. You go along a track with many tunnels, twists and turns along the way. It's immense fun, and certainly competitive when you're racing against your father! All I'll say is I was robbed of a win by my father, and I still have the scars to prove it.

So Queenstown was turning out to be quite an adventure, and as my next post will tell you, it only gets better, as I tackle my most challenging decision yet; to bungee or not to bungee!? (I'll reveal all later this week!)

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:
No.13 - A bit of a flutter
No.12 - A day at the Museum

No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

The New Zealand Diaries: No.13 - A bit of a flutter

There's a time for everything in life. Your first sip of an alcoholic beverage, your first kiss and so on. Life is full of interesting opportunities which we should take advantage of. Live today like there's no tomorrow, that's the saying right?

Which is why, on my recent trip to New Zealand, I decided to try betting for the first time. And wow, what an experience it was.

Now when I say betting, you immediately think going into a betting shop and placing a bet on a football team. But what I actually mean is I had a flutter on a few horses when I attended the Omokau Races.

Oo, fancy I hear you say!? Well, it was rather cool. Situated right in the middle of nowhere, similar to most of the towns and villages in New Zealand, Omokau Races is a fantastic track which attracts horses from across the country to compete.

But the thing that's very different is that it's not horse racing as we would associate horse racing to be. The popular horse racing in New Zealand is actually harness racing, which involves the jockey in a small cart/ harness, being led by the horse. In the UK, we call this trotting.

It's bizarre to see, as if you've wondered back into the Victorian era. But that's the brilliant thing about New Zealand, it sticks to tradition. So following tradition, my family and I set off for the annual Omokau family fun day on a sweltering summers day.

The event was packed, with plenty of activities for everyone. Besides the racing (there were about 12 races throughout the day), there was the opportunity to take part in a ladies fashion show, jump on the bouncy castle and sample locally produced food.

But the racing was the best part. This is where the Kiwi's get into their own, all lining up by the track to cheer on their favourites. To place a bet, it's pretty simple. You can go for a top three finish, a win or you can place a bet on a collection of horses. It's really up to you.

It's best to place a bet with the mindset that you haven't come to win. Start the day with a few dollars, say $50, and don't rush into betting all at once. I had a few bets and they failed, sat out for a while and then placed two more. On the last two, I had won back all my money and broke even (very rarely happens, I'm told!)

It's a day of fun. A chance to place a bet, bask in the hot sun and enjoy a picnic on the lawn with hundreds of Kiwi's all having a good time. For me, this was one of the best days of my trip, for it really was an alternative day out!

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:
No.12 - A day at the Museum

No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

Men's Fashion: top essentials for a Summer Holiday

If you're going away on holiday this year with the lads, or maybe just a quiet break with family, us men should really think about what you're going to bring with you. Here are just a few items which I would recommend for any holiday (from clothes to sun cream!):

From top to bottom: Clinique sun spray; Antler Liquis luggage; Oakley sunglasses; Boots No7 for Men gradual tanning cream; Primark shirt, shorts and sunglasses; Boots earplugs; Swimming trunks from Mr Porter; Banksy: the man behind the wall & Skagboys, both from Waterstones; Joop! Homme Summer Ticket from Superdrug; Havaianas flip flops; What's App app (available on Android/ Blackberry/ iPhone); Paperchase notebook)

Other fashion posts from the jourknow:

- the Man Bag

- the Polka Dots are in town!

- Men's Fashion Summer 2012

 

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Design plans unveiled for Thames Estuary Airport

Designs for the estimated £50Billion airport in the Thames Estuary have been unveiled.

The plans for what has been dubbed the ‘world’s biggest airport’ show how the project, which plans to serve over 150million passengers a year, will be built on waste land on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Lord Norman Foster, the architect who created the new Wembley Stadium, is behind the plans for the new airport, which includes four runways, terminal buildings and high-speed rail connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Talking of the benefits of the plans, Lord Foster said that it would “lay the foundations for the future prosperity of Britain.”

Architectural critic Edwin Heathcoate said that the plans would be a “complete re-imagining of the UK’s transport infrastructure.”

“It’s a vision of the kind of integration in transport and utilities that has not been considered since the great age of canals and then of railways.”

The plans for a new airport, first unveiled two years ago by the Thames Estuary Airport Feasibility Review, will serve to overcome the current problems surrounding London’s Aviation industry.

Experts estimate that by 2030, Heathrow – currently the UK’s biggest and busiest airport – will reach maximum capacity, and with other London airports restricted on growth, a sustainable resolution to the problems is needed.

However, critics of the plans, including Medway council and environmental charities including the RSPB – who say the plans will threaten thousands of bird species – are against the plans.

Leader of Medway Council, Rodney Chambers, said the plan were “quite possibly the daftest in a long list of pie-in-the-sky schemes that have been put forward for an airport.”

An RSPB spokesperson said: “We oppose this airport proposal because the massive environmental impact is unjustified.”

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia


*a piece from my University of Kent portfolio

Blog of the Week: Besotted with Books

So summer is nearly upon us, which means putting your feet up (if you're a student like me) for a few months and hopefully flying off to somewhere hot and exotic for a bit of sightseeing and travelling. Or if you'd rather, sun, sex and Sambuca if you're into that.

But if you're more cultured, like myself, then you'll waste no time checking out the local tourist spots and rich heritage on your holiday, as well as cramming any spare time with a good read.

Which is why this weeks Blog of the Week is fantastic. You see, I'm one of those people that just grabs any old book on offer from Waterstones (usually when they're on 3 for 2) which looks interesting. A quick read of the blurb, a scan of the front cover and I'm done. Well, so long as it fits nicely into the action/ adventure/ crime category.

Besotted by Books however has helped me expand my own personal library. Featuring a mix of reviews, news and opinion on all things books, the blog has a refreshing yet comprehensive line up of books.

Appealing to the Adult/ YA age groups, the blog is run by Natalie Frampton, a fond friend of mine and former colleague, who juggles her busy family life and work on top of running the blog.

Natalie is often my number one source for all things books, and I am forever bumping into her in Waterstones (I would put money on the fact that she is the Alton branch's number one customer!) Her knowledge in her field is evident, just ask some of her 240 odd followers on her blog!

What I like most about her blog is that she combines different online elements to form a really unique, professional blog. Her YouTube videos are fantastic, and she really interacts well with her followers. She is an avid user of Twitter too, so has all the bases covered.

A recent review of hers led me to buying 'A Night to Remember', the book based on the tales of passengers on the Titanic. Struggling to choose which Titanic novel to pick, I read the review and asked Natalie herself for her advise. Eventually, after three nights of little sleep, I had finished the book and was over-the-moon with a new addition to add to my book shelf. The book was fantastic, and no doubt I, like many others who follow her blog, owe Natalie a big thank you.

You can find her blog here: Besotted with Books
You can also follow Natalie on Twitter: @NatFrampton

Picture Courtesy of Besotted with Books

Previous 'Blog of the Week' posts:

- Midomi

- Tasha on TV

- This is Alton

- Mode de la Mode
- Catastrophic Findings

The New Zealand Diaries: No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

If you ever get the chance to experience New Zealand, you'll realise just how breathtaking the landscape is. At times, it felt like I was holidaying in the Amazon rainforest, with the vivid colours, cool climate and dense bush.

And experiencing Purakaunui Falls was like the icing on the cake. A stunning, natural waterfall hidden in the middle of the rainforest.

Like an oasis, the waterfall was magical. Blue, fresh spring water splashing down on to smooth, mountain rock, creating a haze that could match the spray from Niagra or Victoria.

The falls are located a small way down a forest track, making it easy for visitors to find. Yet the walk was fun, offering visitors the chance to look up into the trees for various birds, and watching underfoot for any insects or small mammals. Most of it was untouched, and the whole experience seemed very natural, as if I was the first person to explore this wilderness.

With any falls, the sound is the first thing you notice when approaching. Imagine the relaxing sound of water trickling down onto your window pane, only this time louder and more aggressive. Kind of relaxing really.

Then there's the smell. Hard to explain, it was a mixture of wet wood and the freshest air possible (if that is a smell!?) It was great just to stop and breath the atmosphere in, soak it in if you pardon the pun!

Then you see it. A small footbridge takes you right to the heart of the small stream, as you witness the water cascading down from quite some way up. The waterfall is tiered in several places, making it even more magical.

The chance to see such a creation was rather humbling, and definitely worth the twenty minute walk to. If you get the chance, make sure you bring your camera!

(First photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:

No.10 - There he blows!

No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas