Thursday 16th
The hot pools at Hamner Springs were
fabulous with an enormous water slide that you rode down on an
inflatable raft thingie and a couple of smaller slides as well. The
kids and I had no trouble keeping ourselves amused for the day while
Phil polished off his J Grisham novel while he waited for us to
finally get tired. We stayed at a lovely friendly motorcamp across
the river away from the tourist madness, with laden plum trees and
other kids for the children to play with.
Friday 17th
Driving to the Wild West Coast in an
old station wagon packed to the gunnels with camping gear is not
everyone's cup of tea but the steak and onion pies from the bakery at
Reefton certainly make it worthwhile. Seriously the best pie I've
had in the last twenty years. We ended up at a charming DOC camp at
Goldsborough and enjoyed exploring the mossy path past the wee bridge
over the river.
Saturday 18th
After a quick trip back to Greymouth
for supplies we managed to find a nice beach and walk down to the
river mouth where we found a sliver of greenstone. The kids found
some good sticks for the walk and dozens of exciting stones that
everyone had to come and look at. A fleet of terns greeted us at
the rivermouth and we watched the fishermen for a while but neither
of them were catching anything.
That evening we met Ewan and his wife Margaret and they took the kids and I down to the stream and taught us how to pan for gold, we even managed to find a few tiny specks.
That evening we met Ewan and his wife Margaret and they took the kids and I down to the stream and taught us how to pan for gold, we even managed to find a few tiny specks.
Sunday 19th
We got away super early expecting that
it was going to rain but it held off until after we got back from
walking up to see the glacier at Franz Josef. The walk to the
glacier was brisk and impressive with the valley walls towering on
either side adorned with waterfalls at appropriate intervals. The
kids practised their mountain goat jumping and skipping the whole way
back to the car – just as well, the first raindrops fell as we
arrived back to the car. The west coast rain forest, clear lakes,
rushing rivers and windy windy roads raced by the window as we made
our way to Haast (what a hole!). Luckily we found a bunkroom at a
friendly motorcamp at Haast Beach so we didn't have to pitch the tent
in the rain.
Monday 20th
A fine and pleasant morning greeted us
on our rising so we headed off through the Haast Pass through to
Wanaka. Rugged mountains soared from their bush clad valleys to
extraordinary heights and then gave way to wide river valleys. The
trees were dripping with life, waterfalls around every corner, and
the rivers all with their own character, some wild, some meandering,
all making their way down – golly gosh it was totally stunning! We
had some morning tea at a spot called Pleasant Flat and well named it
was too!
Then we were through the Pass and we
tumbled out next to Lake …..? Someone had been having a bit of a
laugh and filled the lake with blue colour and it looked completely
ridiculous against the tussocky brown of the hills behind. After a
further wind through the high country hills we emerged again to find
Lake …..... where we paused for photos and then again for an
ice-cream at the other end. Again someone had been playing with the
colours!
Half an hour later we arrived at Wanaka
and had a wander at the lake front, the kids played at the playground
and we restocked. Between the jet boats, motorcycles, whipper
snippers and waterskiiers Wanaka was a bit noisy for us so we found a
spot out of town to camp.
Tuesday 21st
The girls were such good helpers
packing up that we took them for a treat to Puzzling World to explore
the maze and puzzle over the illusions. Next was a swim down the
lake at Wanaka but this time we went far from the madding crowd. It
looked bloody freezing but the girls reckoned it was not too cold –
they didn't stay in for long though. Phil and I were content to
watch and guzzle cherries on the shore.
Late afternoon we drove through the
Lindis Pass to Twizel, all breathtaking parched high country hills
and the occasional improbable lake on the way. After a brief stop
feeding salmon at a farm we continued up to Glentanner on the shores
of Lake Pukaki (again with the silly colours) looking up at Mount
Cook.
..........we're now in Temuka and heading up the East Coast but I don't want to spend all day in the library so this update ends here. Cheers.
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