Blogs from Westport, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

One of the more pleasurable experiences while one is on holiday is to wake in the morning to a view that is new to you and the sun shining.And so it was this morning in our cosy holiday home in Waimangaroa. We are a short distance back from the beach so the view of the sea is in the distance but the native NZ pigeon or Kereru was sitting in the tree right outside the lounge breakfasting on berries was a delight to see. We very occasionally see them far away in tree tops at home but not as close as here. With no weekend housework to do we lay in listening to the radio interviews of the victorious and vanquished from the National Election yesterday. The status quo will prevail for another 3 years. Breakfast ... read more

Geo: -41.7581, 171.602I can feel the wind blowing through my hair – all ¾ of an inch of it - as the skies clear up and we hit the rugged west coast of the South Island. We are scooting up the coast, staying one night at each location until we get to the point at which we head slightly inland and north. It is exhilarating, freeing, joyful! We have had a run of glorious sunshine and cool breezes and all we do is drive, locate a walk or two to view various landscapes and stunning vistas and stay in unique and friendly backpacker hostels. Our favourites are Global Village and Beaconstone Eco Lodge. I now ask each hostel if they have a cat (to which I am intensely allergic), guiding our decisions about places to stay. ... read more

Geo: -41.7581, 171.602Zaterdag 12 februariStilaan vorderen we naar het Noorden van het Zuidereiland. Vanmorgen hebben we rustig uitgeslapen en zijn we tegen 10u vertrokken voor een rit van zo'n 270 km. De eerst 150 daarvan was door bos- en berglandschap tot Hokitika. Hokitika was het eerste plaatsje van enige omvang dat we tegenkwamen. Het is de hoofdstad van de bewerking van jade en New Zealand greenstone. We hebben ons niet te veel laten verleiden door de juwelen en zijn maar iets gaan drinken in het Café de Paris. Daarna ging de rit verder langs de mooie, wilde westkust aan de Tasmaanse zee. In Punakaiki zijn we gestopt om de beroemde pannenkoeken rotsen (pancake rocks) te gaan bekijken en de blowholes waar de wilde zee in omhoog blaast. Het was nog geen vloed, wanneer het effect het ... read more

Despues de disfrutar del Parque Abel Tasman, nos fuimos hacia la costa Oeste. Dormimos en el auto antes de llegar a Westport. Al dia siguiente en la costa, vimos Karamea Beach una playa que no es apta para nada, entonces fuimos más hacia el norte Oparara Basin. Dodne hicimos unas caminatas bordeando un rio. Luego volvimos hacia el sur (Westport) donde vimo una colonia de focas y seguimos más hacia el sur dónde hicimos el Truman walk. ... read more

Monday I set out to cross a small mountain pass near Reefton (through the Waitahu Track). I made my first stream crossing. It appeared to be a straight forward crossing (it was only 10 feet across and relatively shallow), but I slipped and fell into the creek. There was some water in my boots, but all in all I survived with only a bruised ego a new respect for the water. I ultimately made it to the valley slope next to the Waitahu River where the track disappeared due to a major landslide. There were other smaller trails that seemed to lead further down into the valley, but it was getting late, I was without my map and I was now unsure of my ability to cross the river, particularly with the recent rains. So I ... read more