South Island 2014

Thursday 9^th January

After a slow get away this morning we enjoyed the drive down to Ohakune today. We popped in to see Oma Ali and Opa John on our way through and enjoyed some tasty toasties there.

The flowers were out at Hamilton Gardens and we had a go at replicating an earlier photo from when Ali was a tot with little success. We managed to get away just as the giant rain drops began to fall. There were impressive thunder clouds, a double rainbow and a sky full of gold as the sun set. Now we are all tucked up safe and warm in bed, all and all a very pleasant start to our holiday.

Friday 10^th January

Mt Ruapahu shed it's clouds to greet us when we woke this morning . After a delicious breakfast of gingercake and rice bubbles shared with a couple of cats on the deck we headed up the mountain to see what it all looks like without snow. The alpine meadows were alive with wee plants of all descriptions, little mosses and sundews, various alpine daisies, caprosmas and giant alpine buttercups growing on the streams edge. The girls drank the freezing snow melt water from the stream and walked the paths that they usually ski. BLT sammies at Ohakune and op shopping at Taihape were followed by a too lo o n g …. drive to Masterton but now we have camped in a lovely spot next to the river at Mt Holdson and are ready to jump up and catch the ferry tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday 11^th

We had an uneventful drive to Wellington and got suckered in to “bargain” shopping at the outdoors stores in the middle of town. The ferry crossing was as smooth and comfortable as one could ask for the Cook Strait with azure skies and smooth seas the whole way. We made an emergency supermarket stop in Picton and devoured our roto-chook at a picturesque roadside lookout with a fine view of a timber yard. The road around Queen Charlotte Sound was scenic as promised and we arrived at our campground destination to find we are the only ones here – apart from one lonely gold prospector who is gone from sun up to sun down.

Sunday 12^th

This morning we went exploring the freezing river pools and the rocks along the river bank, and then for a walk through an old gold mining tunnel where they diverted part of the river. On the way back to our tent we spotted some fruit trees and indulged in some scrumping of teeny tiny plums. After lunch the girls and Phil donned wetsuits and went down the rapids 70's style on lilos with much laughter and bravado. We dashed to Havelock for supplies for dinner and now Phil and the kids are indulging in a spot of evening fishing while I update the trip diary and charge the innumerable devices.

Monday 13^th

After a slow get-away from Pinedale motorcamp we wended and winded our way up to Motueka, over the Takaka Hill to Beautiful Golden Bay to find that Totaranui camp was all full up. Phil came to the rescue and found us a spot at Shambala to camp for the night.

Tuesday 14^th

Another stunning day in paradise – we packed up early and went down the beach to play. Ali, Lily and Phil made a beach house from driftwood, played with the jellyfish and found all kinds of treasure on the beach. We stopped at Takaka and then up the hill to Canaan Downs. The single lane dirt road took us through some amazing countryside full of sculptural limestone, ancient beech trees, stunning views out to the sea over Motueka and then we arrived at the abandoned festival venue with wide open paddocks of wavy grass surrounded by beech forrest. Truly a magical place to camp – wish I got a picture of the hippy toilets! In the evening we went exploring the beech forrest, it's full of caves and sink holes but without a guide we weren't game to disappear into the earth. Amazing lichen and moss grows on the trees and giant limestone outcrops lurch up from the ground.

Wednesday 15^th

Brrrrrrrr everyone was a bit cold last night and when Phil got up he found a thick layer of frost and ice over everything, we weren't expecting that in the middle of summer! The dawn chorus was the most most beautiful I've ever heard – the tuis truly outdid themselves. Phil went to commune with nature and was followed by a South Island Robin for a km before it followed him back to camp. He offered it some gingernut crumbs which were gratefully received and then it left. On the way out we stopped at the friendly ice-cream shop to feed the animals, so much fun for the kids! Ali made friends with Dierdre the white deer. It was a bit of a long drive to Hamner Springs but we made a few stops on the way, most notably at the lolly shop at Motueka and the op shop where we picked up woollen blankets for a dollar each – no more brrrrrr for us.