Blogs from Nelson Lakes National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 2

Hi everyone, well we left CLOSED up Greymouth !! and moved onto Nelson which took about 5 hours. We decided to get up at 6.00am and take the costal road along to Nelson. Fortunately, the local chap in the brewery told us to take this road and we wouldn't be sorry. So glad we did because we headed for the 'Pancake Rocks and Blowholes' and they were truly amazing. Very large rocks in all shapes and sizes coming out of the sea with the waves crashing all around and inside them. Even saw a rainbow over them and lighting from the Sunrise hitting different parts of it, really very lovely. Onward we went through lovely scenery, mountains, hills, farms and small towns, when we finally came to Nelson. This looked a bright sunny place, down by ... read more

Saturday 8th March - awoke to clear blue skies and took leisurely 50 metre stroll down to the lake before breakfast. Stunning views across the lake which was like glass reflecting the mountains. Beautiful and tranquil but a reality check came with the news that a 19 Year old lad from Germany had gone missing on one of the many tracks 3 days ago and was presumed lost with little chance of being found. After breakfast we took a 2 hour walk around the lakeside seeing only 3 other people but lots of wildlife in particular bumble bees by the hundred, sand flies by the thousand plus numerous birds including Bell Birds, Fantails, Silver Eyes and a white heron.in the lake itself there were trout and Eels some of which we saw and would have been ... read more

By 8am Dave, Ana and I are zooming along in Ana’s car, food and packs safely stowed in the back. It takes 1hr 30mins to reach St Arnuad, a town in the Nelson Lakes national park where all the walking tracks start from. After a relaxed hot chocolate, we are joined by the rest of our group making us a rather amusing motely crew of 5, here’s the run down; Joan (Dick’s friend) horticulturalist, intrepid leader and fantastic lady aged 69; Lois a rather sturdy, plough through anything lady, a great laugh, and has a thick New Zealand accent, aged 59; Ana – we have been on many walks together now, and had become a good friend, she is a very straight talking, bean pole of a lady who is great fun; David a great humoured ... read more

If you live in Marlborough Sounds (a green and gentle coast in a green and gentle sea) it is quite possible that you will get your post delivered by the mail boat. The service leaves several times a week and delivers letters and parcels to all the residents of the Sounds. I was lucky enough to join a trip for one afternoon. The skipper will deliver parcels for five dollars each until the parcel is large enough to hurt his back. At this point delivery is supplemented by beer. He did note though that once he delivered a goat and was paid in cray fish. This seems like a sensible bartering system to me. The skipper delivers and receives the mail at the different moorings across the Sounds. This is of a great way to meet ... read more

Friday, March 5th We decided to try a new technique for getting Birdsy on the Boesman's roof, because she's just too heavy for the two of us to lift comfortably. We positioned her bow in front of the Boesman then lifted her stern until it rested on the front roof rack. From there we slid her up and into position. It required much less muscle power than our old technique and we hope to be able to use the same technique to get her down as well. This technique should also benefit the poor old Boesman. He’s had enough knocks and scrapes already. When we were all packed we drove through Kaiapoi to Rangiora, a lovely little town a few kilometers to the north-west. Here we stopped to get a new flask, because our previous one ... read more