Hello to the South Island

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The crossing from the North Island was picturesque, especially the final part through Marlborough Sound (I think ‘sound’ seems to be another word for fjord) to the town of Picton. Here we settled into a lovely hostel - complete with hot tub and complimentary hot chocolate pudding! We pottered around for a couple of days before heading on a very pretty drive west to Golden Bay. On the way we climbed a very steep hill to Rawhiti Cave which had very impressive stalactites…well worth the effort (though I’m not sure Caroline agrees!). We stayed the next couple of nights at The Innlet, a lovely relaxed hostel with a hammock, big trampoline-type net over a stream, and outdoor baths (as well as more conventional indoor ones!). From here we explored Farewell Spit (at the North-Western tip of the island) with some pleasant walking through farming country and dune-backed beaches. Wharariki Beach was a particular highlight with rock formations just off the beach and seals with their pups flip-flapping around.

Having enjoyed our stay at The Innlet we retraced our steps south to a campsite in Tekaka which had great views of the surrounding hills. On the way we popped in to Langford’s Store in the village of Bainham - this place didn’t seemed to have changed since the 1920’s…we stayed for cream teas before taking a dip in the river a few miles up the road. Just outside Tekaka we also took a diversion to see the Te Waikoropupu Springs - the largest springs New Zealand. Here they claim to have the clearest spring water in the world…it looked pretty clear to us. When we arrived in Tekaka we stumbled across their Mardi Gras…an entertaining procession with music and lots of dressing up, dancing, juggling and general merriment! We passed a day with a couple of short walks and some time on the beach at Ligar Bay - where I saw a huge sting ray while paddling out into the shallow water. It made me jump as they sit there on the bottom looking all sandy until they feel you coming and flap off - this one looked about 4 or 5 foot across.

On Monday we got up early to do a circular walk in the northern-most section of the Abel Tasman National Park. The scenery was beautiful as we climbed Gibbs Hill then dropped down to the beautiful beaches at Anapai Bay and Mutton Cove. The walk was a bit further than we expected though - eight and a half hours in the end…we slept well!

We’ve now arrived in Nelson where we intend to spend a few lazy days doing very little…I hear a beach calling!

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Photos

Logs near Picton
..I made Caroline take it because Mrs. Bibb likes logs!

Wharariki Beach
Seal

Comments

[hag]

and we did some of that too, and went to the grove rocks! Lovely to remember. Doesn't the abel tasman look beautiful. did you get a boat soem of the way - water taxi I mean?