Until 2020 we spent many years looking for the distinctive blue mushroom pictured on the NZ $50 note while geocaching and tramping, to no avail. We understand that this special mushroom is the only mushroom on a bank note in the world. It is very bright among the dark and muted greens of the forest and is a delight to behold.
According to Manch (2016) the Maori name for the mushroom is werewere-kōkako - which means wattle kōkako. He goes on to quote Dr Sila Villas-Bôas, a professor of mircro-biology at the University of Auckland, explaining that there is an old Tūhoe story that says the Kōkako got its blue wattle from rubbing against the blue mushroom. We thought that was a pretty cool connection between our favourite mushroom and our favourite bird! (https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/85986167/are-those-magic-mushrooms-on-the-50-note)
During autumn of 2020, while in our long COVID lockdown, we spent a lot of time walking local tracks with the kids, teaching them about the stunning flora and fauna that can be found in this very special part of NZ.
One particular day, we were "going on a mushroom hunt" and we chose the Pukerimu Wetlands Track. We each took something to take pictures with, and took pictures of all the mushrooms we could find. This was really new to us, even to Mum, who has a keen interest in plants, but never slowed down enough to specifically explore the forest floor in autumn to discover the wonderful world of mushrooms! Anyway, I digress, on that particular day our eyes were extra sharp and atuned, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something blue... could it be?? It definitely was! The blue mushroom from the $50 note, the blue mushroom from my bucket list, the Entoloma Hochstetteri, woohoo! The boys were excited too, and we took turns doing happy dances and each having our photo taken with it. Later at home, we tried to paint it too!
About this track:
I have put the parking marker at the start of the access we usually use. You will see on the map another track further up Fisher Rd, taking you to the same point, this is where the old Fisher Rd went before the road was realigned some years back. It is now almost completely overgrown, so I would recommend sticking with the route from the parking coordinates. Please note, this track is not sign-posted, and not maintained. If attempting this cache during/after wet weather, you will need gumboots (or shoes you don't mind getting muddy), and there will be plants hanging over the sides of the track to varying degrees.
If you continue past the cache you will end up in the wetlands area, where the track meanders around the waterways, under the pylons, and giving lovely views of the mountains on a clear day. After exploring, return the way you came, or IF you are properly prepared with GPS and maps and plenty of time etc you can continue all the way through the wetlands and it will take you on a non-maintained hunter's bush track back out to Fisher Rd where you can then walk back down the road to your car (allow 1.5 hours total).
Container is a plastic bulk 200 vitamin container.
WARNING: Track sometimes used by hunters, wear bright clothing and make noise if walking here on dusk or at night.
Entoloma Hochstetteri
Featured on the $50 note
The painting from the mushroom hunt
Wetlands
