South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 198 – 219 02 - 24 May 2010

 From Lake Dunstan (see pics previous blog) on our way back to Nelson for the winter.

At many 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   

We are now wintering over in Nelson for possibly three months until the end of August.  During this time this blog will semi hibernate with most of the content being limited to Tasman and Golden Bay and any geocaches we find in the area.  This blog is best viewed in conjunction with Raewyn's email episode that corresponds with the same days and dates. 

(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.)

Lake Dunstan.  The following few pics were taken early morning at our free camp at lake Dunstan.  Out first frost. 

 

Lake Dunstan.   The morning sun tries to to break through the morning mist.

Chatto Creek.  Historic post office that’s still in use. GC

Ophir.  One lane bridge on the way to the historic town of Ophir. GC

St Bathans.  The historic haunted Vulcan Hotel.

St Bathans.  The following are some pics taken on our walk around the Blue Lake.

St Bathans.  It's just big enough for some limited water skiing.

St Bathans.  All around the lake there is evidence of the early gold mining days.

St Bathans.  The lake is really blue.

St Bathans.  The shoreline in mostly barren.

St Bathans.  Except for the south western end.

St Bathans.  Most of the landscape is quite barren.

St Bathans.  Could be mistaken for Aku Aku maybe.

On the road again.  Road through the Maniatoto heading to Wedderburn

Naseby.  Spruce forest in autumn. GC

Naseby.  The home of curling. GC

Naseby.  No they have an Olympic indoor curling rink now so there's little use for this one.

Naseby.  The use of the outdoor swimming pool in the Black Forest must be somewhat limited.  It is a big hole dug in the ground with concrete poured in in parts. GC

Naseby.  What we would do to get to a geocache. GC

Naseby.  There was a geocache out by Coal Pit Dam – on the far side. GC

Mosgiel.  Early morning training at the Wingatui Race Course.

Mosgiel.  Our camp for more than ten days.

Mosgiel.  After a long walk through the Flagstaff forest in the hills behind Mosgiel to find a geocache the path ended at this historic water wheel.  Yes it was a bit dark in the forest. GC

Aramoana.  A memorial of a past tragedy that will long be remembered. GC

Aramoana.  Protected wetlands looking back to Port Chalmers.  Note the container ship at the port. GC

Port Chamlers.  Same container ship seen from Aramoana now on its way. GC

Port Chalmers.  With the Pilot boat on its way for support.  GC

Waikouaiti.  Throughout our travels we have come across a number of grandstands of all sizes that are almost now derelict.  GC

Waikouaiti.  Boot hill looking for another geocache. GC

Waikouaiti.  Many of the trees that leaked sap were covered in butterflies and some wasps.

Waikouaiti.  A close up of the specie of butterfly that was in hundreds in the area.

Waikouaiti.  A little further north is a wetland called Flag Swamp and a geocache.  Where ever we went we were accompanied by Madeline who enjoyed the wild (scrumped) apples that we gave her.  GC

Half Way (almost).  Yes there was a geocache here.  It was worth a stop for a cuppa. GC

Temuka.  The symmetry of a pastoral scene.  GC

Temuka.  Is famous for it’s pottery.  Maybe even these on the old courthouse.

Temuka.  There was a geocache in the garden of trees of the world.  Autumn colour show off.  GC

Kaikoura.  A typical beach scene.  We stopped for lunch and a geocache. GC

Blenheim.  An old cottage.  Historic Cob Cottage is well worth a visit.  GC

Blenheim.  A modern cottage! GC

Blenheim.  A few more pics of autumn colours. GC

Blenheim.  The vineyards are sure a picture this time of year.

Lake Argyle.  Just added for a brag.  1.5 and 1.3kg brown trout caught on my own tied flies prepared for smoking – yum! GC

Tophouse.  On the road back to Nelson.  Early transport means. GC

Well that's it for this lot - next time then.........................

South Island - Our Intrepid Journey Day 63 – 72 20 – 29 December 2009

Motueka River (McLeans Picnic Area) - Lake Rotoroa -Howard Valley - Lake Rotoiti - Kowhai Point (Wairau River) - Lake Argyle - Blenheim - Springrove - Nelson

Up until now, 29 Dec09 we have been staying in the Tasman / Golden Bay area waiting for friends Mike, Lynne and Harry to arrive.  They cross Cook Strait on 30Dec09 for a six weeks holiday touring the South Island for which we'll join them.  That's why we seem to have visited places more than once, even twice, and only for most often one night.  Later in 2010 we'll revisit places for longer and hopefully get more (and better) pics.  The next blog will start on 30 Dec09 after their arrival and inclusion into our intrepid journey.  Always we take a great many picsof each location but for this segment only show one or two representative pics.  These are some of those taken as we moved through the above locations.  Also we're having a lot of fun 'geocaching' and try to find some at most locations.  If your not sure what we mean check out www.geocaching.com .   We hope you don't mind seeing pics with 'The Italian Job' in them as after all it's our intrepid journey diary.

South Street in Nelson is one of those streets in the South Island that remains as it was.

Unchanged from when the buildings were oringinally constructed.

On the way out of Nelson we stopped to tour through Broadwood House. Photography was not permitted inside. The house was set up as used by the original owners – google it!

When one travels there are always things that grab your eye.

Like someone who is clever with a chainsaw.

And with a sense of humour.

Kawaiti Junction is actuall a DOC park. We didn’t stay.

But did do the old railway walk. 

That takes you through the old railway tunnel.

Yes there’s light at the other end of the tunnel and this was it.

The old railway is long gone but the remnants remain.

We stayed a night at the Howard Valley Camp Area for a donation.

Where it is a gazetted gold fosisking area for non-mechanical searching like panning. One of those here whilst we were there showed us the gold they had found. Enough for a gold crown for you tooth - yeah right.

Extensive tree planting is evident all through the area.  We did spend a night at Lake Rotoroa but the bad weather and sandflies put a damper on the photography.

From Lake Rotoroa we moved to Lake Rotoiti and as you can see the weather was still somewhat ‘inclement’

However for some it was almost perfect.

The following morning the weather had improved giving us the view towards the head of Lake Rotoiti

One of the very many bush walks.  We were off to look for a geocache on this one.

This is the very start of the Buller River, from Lake Rotoiti.  It sure gets way bigger on its way to the west coast.

Moving on from Lake Rotoiti heading towards Blenheim the next stop was a DOC park beside the Wairau River at Kowhai Point.

Tried fishing but after some rain a day or two ago the river was quite flooded and discoloured.

I'm told by locals that the fishing really comes on when the Ti Tree blooms.  We'll going by this Ti Tree a substantial improvement in the fishing area is somewhat overdue!

Sunrise at Lake Argyle.  We stopped here on the way to and again from Blenheim.  

Lake Argyle is man made and the the level drops by a meter or so each day and it the fills up again over night.  A great place for trout fishing - yes some were caught, they were a good size and in good condition, and yes we both have a licence.

A pic of the Lake argyle power station below the dam where water is available to fill tanks.  Up at the dam itself free power is available.

Each day this gate is automatically raised to allow water flow to generate power and then lowered later in the night to allow the dam to fill up.  The pic doesn't show the real turbulence, not water you would want to fall into.

The tail race from the power station was cleaned out of weed not so long ago with most of the trout caught being put up into the head race to the dam.  From Lake Argyle it was off to Blenheim then back to here.  From the second visit to Lake Argyle we headed to Nelson via Spring Grove again to Nelson for three nights before heading off to Picton on 29Dec09.  We spent Christmas at Nelson with Rob and Jane, yet to show pics, as guests of a wonderful hospitable couple, Hank and Vivien.  We do hope to meet them again sometime in the future.