Pencarrow. We did this ride around the coast from Eastbourne.
Cruise ship at Picton (and Kath)
Getting a bit lumpy at Picton. Did a 3 hour kayak across Grove arm (look at a map) towards Mistletoe Bay. but the wind came up so we headed back.
Blenheim wine and food festival (He - Giesen riesling, she - who knows?)
Overnight park at Blenheim - beside a track that had been built beside the Fraser river. It went for kms and was used by everyone from skateboarders to mobility scooters (and everyone in between)
Hot (not!) pool at Molesworth. This was about 8ft across and 5ft deep and just below where we were parked.
Right on our back door.
Between the old and new Molesworth stations. I did a ride up the valley to the left beyond the near ridge line.
Good fun!
Acheron in the rain. Had lunch here, down by the (rising) river.
Jollies Pass into Hanmer. Before we arrived they had had virtually no rain for 3 months! Kathy starting to draw in sharp breaths about now! This pass is the lesser used of two heading in to Hanmer - but shorter (wonder if that was why it was steeper?!)
Rosie's nemesis - Duncan's creek. We were killed by the overhang - it is steeper and deeper than it looks. We were stuck, with the back wheels in the deepest part and the back of the overhang bottomed on rocks under the water. We were 80 kms from Hanmer (on a 30 kph road). After having an inspect I put her in reverse and eased back out and we both gave a big sigh of relief.
Bridge rated at 2500kg - Rosie is over 4000kg. Better to err on the safe side. This was the alternative to the ford.
OK. So we'll RIDE to Lake Tennyson.
Cold wet and windy at Lake Tennyson.
Overnight at the top of Jack's pass near Hanmer. This is on our way back - tails between our legs.
On the way in to Lake Daniells. “Don't touch the black trees!”. They usually had wasps on them feeding on the Honeydew - Kathy is allergic to wasp stings.
Lake Daniells (photograh by KMH). There is a 4wd track in to the far end of the lake from near Murchison but we'll save that for next time (when it will, with any luck, be drier)
Ford #1 on Palmer Rd - off Inangahua road near Springs junction. This was a neat valley road along the upper Grey river that went for about 20km with 7 fords. In the Lake Sumner forest park
Early start on Lake Rotoiti. Beginning of our adventure kayaking to head of lake and then 2 day tramp up the Travers valley. Kathy was convinced it was going to get rough - hence an early start!
Head of Lake Rotoiti showing the Travers valley (Still not windy)
Transition point: from kayaking to tramping. We dragged the kayaks up into the bush out of sight of both lake and track.
Just carrying day packs with Sleeping bags and mats, a fly and food for overnight (and a toothbrush)
You've GOT to have a camp fire! (we had already broken the drought- so it was quite safe!)
Dinner time up the Travers valley. You can't see the sand flies.
End of first adventure Lake Rotoiti. That's the Travers valley at the far end of the lake.
Up the Howard valley near Lake Rotoiti. They do “fossicking” here - gold panning. It's on the list of places to stay for next trip.
Rewaka Resurgence - near Motueka (in flood!)
Spooky - Harwards Hole
The Hole disappears over the other side of that rock behind Kathy
It's a long way down - but filled with mist.
On the way out from Harwards Hole
Northern ATNP near Separation Point. This hut was very old and had attic rooms.
Wainui Bay (Abel Tasman NP)
Lunch time near Totaranui ATNP. Just after I had had a couple of seals playing and “running rings around me”. Solo trip
Aorere river. I put in a bit down river from this and kayaked the last 12 kms or so. It was NOT like this!
Kaihoka lakes Wanganui inlet. I swam here!
Waiting for the tide to come in a bit further before paddling up Wairoa river - Whanganui inlet
Wairoa river - almost primeval
Wharariki beach - near Farewell spit.
Wharariki beach
It goes right through......
....See!
Three Anatoki salmon that were alive and well just 20 mins or so earlier. 4 different flavoured smokings available. Yummy! (We caught them)
Should be out there! Looking out to Adele Island (left)
We are! Start of 3 day kayak in ATNP. Heading out the river at Marahau
Not hard to find a deserted beach even with so many kayakers around.
Anchorage ATNP. Stayed here two nights in the tent.
Bedlam at Anchorage! Mid afternoon with kayakers both leaving and arriving under own steam or by water taxi
Finally! Cleopatras Pool. Second attempt when we went most of the way by kayak and only had to walk for 20 mins to get to the pool.
Heading for the slide
Dumped!
Seal
Wee sheltered lagoon - on our way back to Marahau from Anchorage. AppleTree bay, I think.
Wairoa gorge in from Wakefield. Neat 2 hour bike ride
Don't like the downhills.
Mermaid where we stayed the night on the Roling river - in from Richmond
On the way in to Whispering Falls - Hackett river valley
Whispering falls. Just beautiful
Can't capture their beauty with a small camera
Lunch time - Hackett river
On the way out from Hackett Hut
...even riding some of the narrower bits!
Dunn mountain trail behind Nelson
Muesli bar time on Dunn mountain trail - Nelson
Cable Bay - the start of the sounds
Literary owners, methinks.
This is where we parked at Okiwi Bay - shunning the POP that had 8 other motorhomes packed in.
Weka at Elaine Bay - Tennyson Inlet - Easter
Penzance Bay from Archer track which we declared “open” after being the first to walk it from Elaine bay after over a year of logging had kept it closed. Some locals invited us for morning tea - very nice
This was our 28km day's exploration of “World's End” at the head of Tennyson Inlet.
Stingray in Tuna Bay (one of 4 we saw that day)
Lunch time on our way back to Elaine Bay, only to find......
the Easter crowds had found us! That's us furthest to the right
Pelorous Bridge - next morning.
Some big trees on the walkway at Pelorus Bridge.
DOC camp site at the head of Kenepuru sound
Kenepuru Head - view from campsite
Kenepuru sound
Picnic bay and Rosie
Dolphins - on our way out to start of Queen Charlotte track
First (of many) views
First Hut! Furneaux Lodge
View from second hut: Punga Cove
About the highest point on the track
Pretty diverting views - hard to keep your mind on the job!
View from Hut 3 Portage
A bit later - even better!
Kenepuru
