Blogs from Golden Bay, Nelson Region, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

We made ourselves a bit of breakfast in our room then repacked our overnight bag and loaded it back into the car. We moved the car to the spot where we had been told we could leave it until after our tour and then walked across the street to the office of Farewell Spit Eco Tours. Not one, but two red busses were pulled up out the front. We settled our account and were told that we would be in the first bus. We loaded up and then Elaine asked if anyone needed the loo before we got underway. Damn, I was fine until she put the thought in my head. Fortunately I wasn't the only one who decided to 'go' before we departed! The red busses headed off towards Puponga where we picked up the ... read more

We packed up today and left the beautiful Totaranui. Parked up at Tarakohe Port this afternoon and it’s on our bikes for a ride to Pohara for a big fat ice-cream:). Then onto a walk/bike track that follows the waterfront at Pohara past the golf course and onto a Historical Cemetery and the Clifton Reserve and picnic area. It’s nice along the waterfront but the rest of it not my cuppa tea. Tuesday morning and the weather as forecasted, has packed it in. So we head to Collingwood for supplies and a wander around in the pouring rain. There is a question mark as to whether our raincoats are actually waterproof. Then off to Pakawau School House Café to bunk down till the weather passes. Pakawau is one of those places that has a good community ... read more

Pohara Early morning walk along the beach, well not that early obviously but quite. The beach must be about 2 miles long and is very gently sloping with very calm water it looks like the ideal kids beach. By the time we were walking back I think there were about 5 or 6 kids and a few parents playing 3 women jogging, 1 quad bike with a trailer and 1 man in swimming. The only thing not peaceful about NZ so far are the cicadas, what a racket they make. Sometimes we can hear them when we are driving on the noisy roads with the a/c on and windows up. Drove along the coast a bit past a sign for penguins, to the Wainui Falls. Interesting walk past some 'slips', through some really very loud cicada ... read more

Geo: -40.7355, 172.659As those of you who know me, I am a bit of a clothes-horse. I love variety in style and colour in what I wear and condensing my clothing apparel to one backpack and the limited choices for 9 months is a challenge for me. On top of that, encountering cold weather for weeks on end meant wearing the same thing over and over, perhaps changing up which layer came first! Well, we have finally hit some warm weather and I feel a release – being able to vary my clothing choices and finally being able to wear a lovely little merino tunic I purchased in Dunedin. Freedom! Life is good. And very uncomplicated at this time in our lives, as you can tell by my deep thoughtfulness :)Golden Bay is a bit of ... read more

Gisterennamiddag gingen we richting de bib. Nog geen nieuws van de mensen die we al dagenlang probeerden te contacteren. We besloten op richting Nelson te rijden. Volgens het weerbericht was het daar gestopt met regenen. Bij ons in Takaka regende het onophoudelijk. De bib sloot ook vandaag weer vroeger want mensen hadden wateroverlast thuis en in de straten. Alle grote banen naar het Noordelijke deel waren afgesloten. Flooding! - overstromingen- Er was dus geen mogelijkheid om nog terug te keren naar Pohara of Collingwood. Toen we net uit de stad waren zagen we een verkeerspaaltje staan. De regen kletterde en verblinde ons zicht op onze voorruit. We besloten trager te rijden en vooraleer we het goed en wel doorhadden reden we wel bijna een halve meter in het water rond! Dit hebben we 3 keer voorgehad. ... read more