Short Finned Eel Feeding

Hurunui Jack's was a unique place. There used to be 12 salmon runs on the property. They got rid of 11 of them to make the pond and kept one for swimming. So on a hot afternoon, we all decided to see what it felt like to be a salmon. The run water was cool and inviting, even if a bit brown and grassy.

Some fellow travelers arrived and were told to reach their glamping tent (glamorous camping) they had to put on Gum Boots. If they had handed me a pair of Gum Boots upon arrival, I am sure I would have laughed in their faces. Curious, we asked to check out the tent after they left. Natalie's new favorite shoes are Gum Boots, which by the way are far less effective when you fall in the lake, as Natalie discovered. So we took the 10 minute hike to the tent that was right by the river. Great tent with a wooden floor and bed.

John, the owner, suggested we feed the eels in the river. Sure John, how do we do that? He gave us some cat food and we headed back to the river (they didn't have the bacon or liver that the eels prefer). We put a cup of cat food in the river covered with a rock. After waiting a few minutes (and John moving the cup to faster flowing water) 3 black eels made their way upstream after smelling the food. "Do we need to move the rock for them?". Nope, they just knocked it over. One was so large that John estimated it's age at 100 years. They were beautiful and strange. We will not son forget feeding the short finned eels.

2 videos below.

For Video Click Below:

Salmon run, yup we swam in it.

My Adventurer

Exploring with Daddy

Gum Boots

Skippin' Rocks

Check Out That Eel

Our friend John.

 100 year old Short Finned Eel.