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Published: February 11th 2010
Ruahines
Lunch stop with Nev and Sue on top of Ruahine 4x4 track - run by DOC in conjunction with Palmerston North 4x4 ClubSorry folks - a lot here but this is a week's worth.
7/2/10 - Nev and Sue took us on a great trip up the Ruahine range and we were able to look down on Dannevirke and the Wairarapa. We left them, travelling over the Saddle Rd, with a quick stop at the Wind Farm. Down through Woodville to Masterton, then Bideford to drop in on Mike and Fi.
8/2/10 - After staying at the Masterton Camping Ground (like out of the 60’s, although comfortable and clean cabins), we travelled to Wellington to catch the 1pm Bluebridge Ferry, arriving in Picton at about 4.45pm as it was running late. On the ferry we caught up with one Kerikeri resident, Gary, and an ex-Kerikeri couple, Bon and Joan. The drive around the very picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive, then north on the Kenepuru Rd, took us to Nikau Cove DOC camp. We were tucked in amongst the native bush for the night, with wood pigeons chasing each other in the trees and the resident scavenging wekas.
9/2/10 - From Nikau we drove to Elie Bay, then Clova Bay on Pelorus Sound, staying at Driftwood Cottage, a small privately owned camp
Mike and Fi
Some of you will recognise these people. on the shores of the bay at Manaroa, Pelorus Sound - a beautiful spot, with a wood-fire barbeque we could use for cooking.
10/2/10 - Drove to Havelock and stayed in a cabin at the camping ground as it was drizzling. We drove up Waimarina Valley to the end of the road to check out Butcher’s Flat DOC camp for future reference - and looked for old mining tunnels - no luck !! Lovely mussels at the pub!!
11/2/10 - We met Ian and Judy from Oxford, (NZ not UK) who gave us some great ideas for 4x4ing further south, and we will probably get in contact when we are down that way. Heading out to French Pass today, we climbed into mist which was quite eerie, but the views were fantastic and the native bush beautiful with rata flowering and more wood pigeons. Elaine Bay was our lunch stop where we chatted to a young French couple who advised us where to camp at French Pass, we had half an hour chatting about travel and the EEU. Onwards to French Pass which is at the end of the road, a small fishing village which has a DOC
You'll never know who you'll meet
Bon and Joan (ex- Kerikeri) on the Ferry camping ground, a shop that opens a couple of days a week, a few houses and an old school which is used for camps.
In residence were senior pupils from a Catholic school - girls in one area, boys in the other - and a lot of hormones! We are at the far end of the DOC camp, right on the foreshore, with a lovely Mum and her daughter on one side, and wildlife at the door of the tent. The seagulls and ducks have pecking order above the wekas. We are getting a little tired of them as they enter the tent scavenging, and Dave throws his jandals at them. Those of us from NI find them fascinating for a while.
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Jan
non-member comment
DC, I'm sure you are enjoying all of this but you could at least LOOK as if you are! Smile my boy, for the dickie bird! xxx Jan