Saturday 29 April 2017

Richmond Nelson

With rain in the forecast we spent the weekend at Richmond relaxing and catching up with the laundry.

IMG_1832Richmond Sundial in the square in Richmond.  Very accurate according to the shadow showing on the dial.

Wednesday 26 April 2017

The locals call it Mot!

But we call it Motueka.  We had been told about a wonderful place to freedom camp close to the Motueka Estuary.  So we set out to find it, wow what a view.  Honey was lucky enough to have fresh fish for dinner as well, unfortunately there was not enough for us.  Good excuse to go back next week weather permitting.

IMG_1819Great little 8 wheeler amphibian craft.

IMG_1821In and out of the water.

IMG_1820Low tide at Motueka Estuary.

IMG_1823This is a really nifty trailer/amphibian. Tow it with a quad bike on land and then load the quad on deck, start the outboard and away you go across the inlet.

IMG_1824Have wheels will travel.

IMG_1830Heading to Richmond to catch up with family.

Tuesday 25 April 2017

On the road to Kaiteriteri!

We headed back over the Takaka Hill towards Motueka.  We decided to find a nice spot on the coast for lunch.

IMG_1815Great view from the front window.

IMG_1816The plaque reads “ In grateful memory of Captain Arthur Wakefield, the founder of Nelson who landed here in October 1841”. The two circles are milling stones made around circa 1845.

IMG_1817Tides out and it’s a long way off.

IMG_1818The high water mark is close to the log in the foreground. It’s got a long way to go.

Monday 24 April 2017

Te Waikoropupu Springs!

Some of the clearest water in the world.  These beautiful Springs are only about 6 km’s out of Takaka and Tapu to the Maori, well worth a visit.

IMG_1781The entrance to the springs walkway.

IMG_1785You need this walkway to reach the springs without getting wet feet.

IMG_1788Not able to speak Maori I assume this means welcome.

IMG_1790Dancing sands spring where you can watch the white sand bubbling up without being washed away by the water flow.

IMG_1792There are not many places where water is this clear.

IMG_1796The water not only comes from the mountains but from sea water being filtered through the earth’s crust.

Sunday 23 April 2017

Beaches for miles.

Leaving Pohara our plan was to head north towards Farewell Spit where the whales beached recently.  Stopping off at a lovely little place that was once a country school.  The grounds are open to our members for a donation.  Beautifully maintained but unfortunately we were not to meet the owners.  We were recommended this spot by some other campers we met at Pohara who we will catch up again next week at a Nelson NZMCA rally in Wakefield.

IMG_1757Golden Bay. We could see where the name came from.

IMG_1758Golden sand’s for miles and miles.

IMG_1765Shell hunting in Golden Bay.

IMG_1767Dine in “Class”  (classroom) at the Schoolhouse Cafe.

IMG_1769Schoolhouse Cafe and camp ground, Pakawau. Lovely little camp site.

IMG_1772Port Puponga at the start of Farewell Spit.

Saturday 22 April 2017

Across the harbour.

IMG_1738Dusk at Port Taratoke not quite the southern lights.

Friday 21 April 2017

Golden Bay

IMG_1737This is our view out the front window! Hard to beat?

IMG_1736NZMCA Port Tarakohe Park at Pohara

I never thought I would find another hill that I disliked more than the Rimutaka Hill in the north island.  But boy I have now, my friend had made a comment about Takaka Hill as she knew I was prone to travel sickness and was surprised we had made the trip. Never again! and we need to return again (only one road access in and out) or perhaps we’ll stay here forever.Smile

IMG_1672

We left Motueka in brilliant sunshine yesterday after the boss had inspected the local Menzshed first. Not like home, all in a container. An hour and a half later we pulled into Takaka.

IMG_1685I hope that rock is stable. Who would build in such a cramped space?

IMG_1698Cormorant’s drying off after a morning’s fishing.

IMG_1702Post’s like this are placed all along the harbour break water and they mark Penguin nesting boxes placed by DOC. The highest number we found was 53.

IMG_1718Say cheese. An uncanny face washed away by the weather.

IMG_1719This schooner has been purchased by a group of guys to do up and sail to Samoa. It’s port of registration is Port Vila.

IMG_1726Yer right, if the hat is missing he’s gone fishing.

IMG_1734Rocky terrain around here with secret hidey holes everywhere.

IMG_1730The rock formations around here must be volcanic from centuries ago.

IMG_1731A natural formation made bigger by man for vehicles to pass through.

IMG_1735Rocky moon scape perhaps?

Wednesday 19 April 2017

Westport to Motueka via Murchison.

Leaving Westport on Tuesday morning we headed for Murchison where we planned to stay for a night after catching up on the laundry.

IMG_1641The Buller River from the Buller Gorge.

IMG_1647Hawk’s Bluff in the Buller Gorge.

IMG_1648Just about a single lane under the bluff. Looks like we need to duck.

IMG_1659Another of those South Island single lane bridges.

IMG_1661Plenty of headroom on this one.

IMG_1662Kiwi station where once the railway ran. Five women had a sit in on the track protesting  over the lines closure and were finally arrested back in the 1950’s.

IMG_1664Tapawera Station on the same closed line.

IMG_1670Autumn colours starting to show in the South Island.

IMG_1671Menzshed Motueka in the A&P show grounds.

IMG_1674That’s a high flagpole. Need a new one Robin?

Sunday 16 April 2017

On to Westport!

IMG_1578This type of road rail bridge are gradually becoming a thing of the past as new road bridge’s are being built.

IMG_1589Single lane road bridge’s like this one north of Punakaikai are still quite common throughout the South Island. This one has been replaced and led to the cave in the following photo.

IMG_1592This cave alongside the Fox River is part of a DOC walk way which unfortunately had suffered flood damage.

IMG_1604The other end of the tunnel where flooding had washed away part of the track.

IMG_1610

The bridge in the background is the original road bridge which had a very sharp “S” bend on and off the bridge approach. Thank goodness it has been replaced.

Moving on to Westport  we opted to stay over the Easter break and sit out the holiday traffic on the roads and spend some quality time relaxing.  Firstly taking a trip out to the lighthouse for a little bit of sea fishing. Needless to say we didn't have fish for tea. Easter Monday we wandered into town, a round trip of nearly 6km’s to checkout the shops and have lunch at Subway.

IMG_1612Westport NZMCA camp site is undergoing expansion with the sole tree bearing assorted footwear and the sign “Tree of lost soles” and that is not a mis-spelling.

IMG_1619Plenty of firewood all along Westport’s beach.

IMG_1622Yours truly trying my luck in the Buller River. No such luck.

IMG_1624Westport graffiti.

IMG_1638Part of the walkway from the camp site to the centre of town.