South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 40 - 45 27 November – 2 December 2009

 Okiwi – Farewell Spit – Milnthorpe – Waikoropupu Springs

3 nights – 1 night – 1 Night – 1 Night

  

ELAINE BAY

Below are a couple of more pics taken at Elaine Bay just before we left to go back over the hill to Okiwi.

A fine early morning.

  

OKIWI BAY

 We spent three nights at Okiwi Bay.  The first at the camp ground to catch up with domestic chores then off down the road to the local POP for the next two nights.

The POP is just across the road from the beach almost opposite the boat ramp.

It would seem that a number of others had the same idea.

 The entrance to the Okiwi harbour is quite sheltered.  This pic was on full 200mm zoom.

 It was great to have at least one day of of almost perfect weather.

FAREWELL SPIT

From Okiwi passing through Nelson we headed all the way up to Farewell Spit.  View from he cafe above the car park (tide out).

From the carpark we crossed the farm that had many interesting rock formations.

Past some old remains of habitation.

Following a well worn path.

 To the ocean beach at Fossil Point.

We weren’t alone on the beach.

 Part of which had been sculptured by the wind.

 That night we free camped just down the road and after a night of rain gumboots were in order.

MILNTHORPE

A free camp spot at Milnthorpe was to be our next stop that had some interesting walks across a causeway.

That was awash at high tide.  In this pic high tide was still almost 1.5 hours away.

 This view is from an old wharf looking back to where we were parked, in the group of trees middle left.

WAIKOROPUPU SPRINGS

From Milnthorpe it was only a few km to Waikoropupu Springs usually just known as Pu Pu springs.

 A short interesting board walk in part over water.

And through the trees.

 To the Pu Pu Springs.

 That has a flow volume of 14,000 litres / second or 40 bathtubs full per second.

That eventually flows down to Golden Bay where we are going to free camp for the night at the Waitapu River Bridge rest area.  That will be in the next blog.

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 33 - 39 20 – 26 November 2009

Blenheim – Picton – Elaine Bay

2 nights – 1 night – 3 nights

After six nights at Whites Bay it was over the hill, past Rarangi Bay.

This was the wide part of the hill road.

And on to onto Blenheim to check out the Farmers Market.

And the characters that really make it happen.

Recycling old drink bottles.  He tells me he can’t make them fast enough.

Whilst at Blenheim we stayed for two nights at the race course, $5 per night.

Leaving for Blenheim we stopped off at the Wairau River to see if any trout were willing to join us (for dinner). 

Just kidding.

At Picton we parked over for the night at the RSA,cost $0, and after getting all our ducks in a row.

We headed to Aussie Bay.  Right by the main road with a very steep entry it wasn’t the place for us to stay.

On the way to Havelock which was our lunch stop after Aussie Bay we stopped at a lookout that even on a flat light day we were treated with this sight.

We made the decision that we would head to Elaine Bay to spend three nights.  First it was over the Pelorus River 

The bridge sign says it all.

Past some very large estuarine flats.

For another hour or so to our next stopover, 3 nights, at Elaine Bay S41.05540 E173.76982

From the Piwakawaka track looking back into Elaine Bay.  The small white blob central is us.

The locals we most friendly.

Even came inside with out invitation. One actually walked right past us and down the passageway.

A very picturesque safe mooring area for a number of boats.

One of the walks is to Piwakawaka Bay.  1.5hrs return.

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 27 - 33, 14 – 20 November 2009

Wellington - Cook Strait - Marlborough Sound - Picton - Whites Bay

After arriving at the Bluebridge terminal at 7am we left Wellington after loading at 8am. They put us on first with the truck and trailer units which was good as we got off first.

 The three hour crossing was quite good with only a small swell and a cool wind. A beautiful blue sky with a stunning view .

 Once in Marlborough Sounds the sea calmed right off.  All down the sounds there were these homes nestled into small bays most of which would only have access by sea.

 The Blubridge ferry reversed into the wharf for our offload.  We tied up without even a bump then it was down into the dark hold to find our motorhome amongst the very large truck and trailer units.

Off to Picton for a good cup of coffee and a bit of a look around.  A beautiful park that looked so inviting in the warm sunshine.  Ferry wharf in the distance.

 Picton to the DOC park at Whites Bay is only a short drive.  The bay faces SE, you can tell from the direction of our satellite dish.  The shelter gave us a chance to set up camp.

 A nice sheltered beach that we almost have to ourselves.  This is the northern end.  The rocks are covered in blue mussels intertidal and big green mussels that you have to get wet for.  Talk about cold with no hood.

 We stayed for six nights. This is the southern end where I got our big mussels.  Whilst I was in the water, completely I could only put my head under water for a few seconds each time.  It was worth it.

 

DOC call it the jewel in the crown for DOC parks in this area.  The mountain in the distance, souther end of beach, Mt Richmond I think, is 9000' high.  Same one as in the picture above. As I said earlier we'll probably stay another  two or more nights, definitely be gone by the weekend.