South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 353 – 368, 6 - 21 October 2010

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey.

Day 353 - 368.  6 - 21 October 2010

Abel Tasman National Park and North to Cape Farewell

This blog is best viewed in conjunction with Raewyn's email episodes that correspond with approximately the same days and dates.


After arriving at Motueka where we stayed a couple of nights free parking at the RSA we moved on to Kaiteriteri Beach to stay at the camp ground. From here we took the tour boat up the Abel Tasman National Park on the 'Discovery Tour'. This tour goes from Kateriteri Beach up to Totaranui Beach starting at 0900hrs. On the way back we were dropped off at Bark Bay and walked to the 7km to Torrent Bay where the tour boat picked us up for the run back to Kaiteriteri where we finished at 1630hrs.

Early morning at Kaiteriteri Beach

The sun silhouettes the islands in the bay.

Time to go, our tour boat has arrived.

This rock is called Apple Rock. An interesting pic with the sun behind it.

Same rock different sun position.

Some of the local inhabitants that make a living off the sea.

There were many individual sea access only properties tucked away.

The snow capped mountains in the background offer some contract.

One of the many inlets of the Park.

One of the better ways to enjoy the beauty of the Park.

It's easy to see why Totaranui Beach is so popular.

Apparently many couples get married by these rock formations.

Hmmm.  So what's this then?

The beginning of our walk from Bark Bay to Torrent Bay.

A view looking back at Bark Bay as we started our climb.

Interesting sand patterns in the estuary.

Sandfly Bay at low tide, on our way to Torrent Bay.

One of the bridges to negotiate on the walk.

So where's Johnny Depp and the Pirates?

Destination Torrent Bay and our tour boat pick up.  


From Abel Tasman it was off further North to Cape Faerwell and places in between. The following are a few of the interesting pics taken on the way.

 After lunch at the 'Mussel Inn' we were off to grub for cockles in the Onekaka estuary.

The locals were real friendly.

Didn't take much interest in us.

Even Mr & Mrs Quail went about their business.

The incoming tide bought it's own images.

Right up North a typical Puponga bach.

And what's left of the Puponga wharf.

This is the entry to Wharariki Beach.

Offered dramatic scenery.

Interesting views as we moved down Wharariki Beach

Looking back the way we had come to the North

It was time to continue the 2 hour round trip

To climb out and leave the pristine Wharariki Beach

Through shoreline scrub

Emerging from the wind sculptured trees

Past a few solitary cabbage trees

For the walk back to 'The Italian Job'

There were still a few places to visit whilst here

The Kahoka sand lakes

Via a 1 hour return Nikau walkway

A visit to the historic Bainham store

On the way to the Heaphy Track

And finally on the way, The Devils Boots.

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 344 – 352 26 September 2010 - 5 October 2010

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 344 –  352

26 September 2010 - 5 October 2010

This blog is best viewed in conjunction with Raewyn's email episode that 
corresponds with approximately the same days and dates.
  

Leaving Richmond we headed via the Moturere Highway for Motueka for a few days to visit the Abel Tasman National Park.  The following are a few pics taken we geocached our way there.

One of the many early churches in the area This one at Redwood Valley.  GC

On the road again, the Motuere Highway.

Pastoral New Zealand where we had a stop next to the Moturere Community Hall. GC

Whilst we were looking for geocaches we were sometimes under surveillance near Harakeke. GC

I find these types of pics quite interesting. Looking back down the Motuere Highway.

Sometimes whilst geocaching we had to leave the blacktop.

Running past some of the new spring youngsters, a baby Spur Winged Plover.

No wasn,t going to cross here, the ford was just shingle

 and the entry and exit angles to great for us. GC

The blueberry plants are just starting to show their spring growth. GC

Not far away from a geocaching stop was this interesting structure.  Ideas?  GC

Suspension bridges abound in this area crossing the Motuere.  

Below them are vehicle fords most of which seem only suitable for tractors. GC

The spring, one could say, brings a hive of activity.  GC

Bought on by the new flowers.  GC

And spring blossom.  GC

Hmmm..!  What are you up to.  

GC

Yep, that’s all folks. GC

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 219 – 335 (343) 25 May 2010 – 26 September 2010

 Nelson for the winter (219 – 335) then a week away and back to Nelson (343).

This blog is best viewed in conjunction with Raewyn's email episode that corresponds with approximately the same days and dates.  

During the four months that we wintered over in Nelson very little opportunity was available for pics.  We left Nelson on 18 September to do a circuit past Lake Argyle (2 nights) then Blenhein (4 nights) then Pelorus Bridge (2 nights) and back to Blenheim so I could fly to Wellington for the day, 28 September.  

Some of the pics taken during this time have been included below.  At some of the locations where pics have been taken from there were geocaches.  For interest these have been identified with ‘GC’. If you want to know about geocaching check out www.geocaching.com   . 

(NOTE:  If you have any trouble with pics ‘fully showing let me know barrieb@arkon.co.nz   Also if you double click on the pic it should show completely.)

  

Richmond - Nelson.  

Waimea Park Country Club.  

This has been our home for the last four months.

Or neighbours curved windows made for some interesting reflections.

Many winter mornings in Nelson were calm and bright.

 

And the evenings just as stunning.

  

Geocaching

Many of you have asked me about geocaching that has taken us to many 

interesting places that we would not normally have visited or rushed by.  

The following few pics show what a cache can be like.

Here's one that is hidden in a pipe that needed water to float it up. gc

A fold out sign no less.  

An ingenious hide, the lengths some will go too.  gc

 

Look I've made my very first geocache find on the way 

to Motueka at a bridge site on the Moturere Road.  gc

 

On the way to Motueka from Nelson a stop at Rabbit Island 

looking out into Tasman Bay was worthwhile.

That's friends Don and Shirley's motorhome.   gc

 

Just off the coast at Motueka is the wreck of the Jane Gifford 

on which a geocache had been placed by ‘Sidewaze and Libertee’.  gc

 I wasn’t in for a swim so had to wait a little while. 

Was really interesting clambering over the wreck once out there.  gc

Still in the Motueka area the boats moored in 

an estuary made for an interesting pic.  gc

As did this individual waiting for the tide.  gc

When we went to visit friends Rob and Jane who were house sitting

we went to where the Riwaka River rises.  It comes out of a big

hole at the foot of the Takaka Hills.

Over the Takaka Hill out at Pohara found 

an enterprising boatie had set up business.

Moored in the still waters of the Pohara marina.

From high in the hills at the back of Nelson the view was quite stunning.  

Walking almost 17km it was a long day but managed to log five geocaches.  gc

A real bonus up in the hills at the Look Out was the 

opportunity to snap this New Zealand Falcon.  

The picture is quite low quality so it is what it is.  gc

With friends Barry and Sue we left Nelson for a 

week heading via Tophouse towards St Arnaud.

It was almost a mid year Christmas.

We stopped at Lake Argyle for a couple of nights 

where you can see a bit of winter still exists.

Barry and Sue headed south through St Arnaud for Murchison 

into some heavy snow. Picture taken by them and sent to us.

While we headed for sunny Blenheim for four nights. gc

Although the higher hills kept us aware that we hadn’t fully escaped.  gc

It was a good time to catch up on a number of geocaches around 

Blenheim one of which was out at the Taylors Dam.  gc

From Blenheim it was off to the Pelorus Bridge DOC camp for a couple 

of nights via Havelock.  Did probably 8 geocaches on the way.  gc

Thought I’d try for trout on the beautiful river below

 the confluence of the Pelorus and Rai Rivers.

Only to be taunted by one of the large resident 

brown trout that had no interest in me.  gc

Time to move on and head back to Nelson passing through the town of Hira.  

The small local churches are always of interest.  gc

The attached cemeteries tell some very interesting stories.  gc

As are the some of the letterboxes we pass by.

The sign of spring.

And summer to come?