On the Ball Pass Trek you will see a wonderful display of New Zealand's unique alpine flora and fauna. Due to New Zealand's long geological isolation many of these plants and animals are only to be seen here.
Your knowledgeable guide will point out the many features that set these mountains apart from the rest of the world.
Leucogenes grandiceps, flowers in New Zealand's South Island mountains during January and February. It is found in rocky places in alpine areas up to 1700m.
Ranunculus sericophyllus. High-alpine herbfields. Flowers from December to February.
Ranunculus Lyallii. The world's largest buttercup. Subalpine to low- alpine herbfields. Flowers November to January.
Ranunculus Lyallii. Magnificent display of Mount Cook Lilies in the Hooker Valley.
Celmisia semicordata. Tikumu. Alpine herbfields. Flowers December to February.
Dolichoglottis scorzoneroides. Subalpine and alpine herbfields. Flowers January and February.
Pentachondra pumila. Subalpine and alpine grasslands. Berries ripen from December to April.
Acyphylla scott-thomsonii. Grows in wet areas of the lower alpine herbfields. Flowers November to January.
The male gets a free ride on the female's back during mating time. Lives in the alpine herbfields. In order to conserve energy alpine grasshoppers spend up to 90 percent of their day resting. Their food requirements are extraordinarily low, thus they conserve their environment.
Deinacrida conectens. The Weta is unique to New Zealand. The Giant Scree Weta is an alpine specialist and lives largely under rocks on scree. It comes out at night to feed on small scree plants. The female has an ovipositor for laying eggs below the surface.
Alpine Weta have the unique ability to freeze solid without being killed.
Xenicus gilviventris. Lives in the rocky areas of the alpine environment. Believed to be spending the winter underground between rocks.
Falco novaeseelandiae. High Country and alpine areas. Agressive during breeding time. The native falcon is the jet-fighter among the birds of prey, usually downing its prey on the wing.
Nestor notabilis, is the only mountain parrot in the world and is only found in the mountains of the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
Keas are always inquisitive. They are very intelligent. Naturally they want to know what your crampons are used for.
They are always playful and sociable.