More west coast pics.

Friday we picked up a French hitchiker who had just completed the Heaphy track. We took him to our campsite. Saturday morning we decided to visit the famous Oparara arches. The english couple who told us about these failed to tell us about the state of the 10 mile track  leading to the arches! Poor Geff our camper really struggled but we got there. It was worth the trip but how can you get a good pic of the biggest limestone arch in the southern hemisphere?

We then picked up the french lad and dropped him at Westport.

We stayed a night at Westport and had a great meal in the town. I think i'd say this is an uninspiring town!

We met a great elderly lady on the site with a camper and a dog and we chatted at length to her. It would seem that she is almost on the run from her family. Apparently her husband is an alcoholic who lost 130k on the pokey machines so she took what she could and bought the van to travel around NZ with her dog.

Today Sunday saw our first  real rainfall for about 8 weeks! We have 2 more nights left in Geff.

Karamea campsite view.

Scotts beach Kohaihai

Kohaihai beach and river.

Kohaihai

Operate arch and cave

Stalagtites in cave.

Mirror tarn in Oparara Basin.

West coast pics

Punakaiki beach

Pancake rocks Punakaiki

Pancake rocks

Puakaiki campsite...sweet, cool awesome.

Pororari gorge.

West coast.

On Wednesday we left Franz Josef and travelled north to Greymouth. I felt a little sorry for Greymouth. People back home told us to give it a miss due to its grey and industrialised landscape. However as we parked on the pier for coffee I read through the numerous bronze plates paying tribute to the many local seamen who were lost at sea in this area of coastline. Later just outside the town we stopped to look at one of the many memorial stones listing the names of local miners killed underground. It would seem that not every town in this beautiful country gets to go to the ball, there always has to be the plain sister who stays at home doing the housework.
Later we stopped for the night at Punakaiki on a campsite where we were met by a lovely 12 year old girl who gave us the obligatory "receptionist speal" of..."hi, sweet, cool, awesome".
We loved the rocks and the blow holes (free admission/ voluntary contributions).
That night we visited the pub next door and got bit to hell on our fingers by sand flys.
The next day before continuing we walked the Pororari river gorge around the back of Punakaiki. This was  a stunning walk that took just over 2 hours.
We then followed the amazing coastal road that runs up to Karamea. A  road voted one of the most scenic in the world. You just want to stop every mile to take photies!
Before hitting Karamea we stopped outside Westport to visit a seal colony.
Karamea turned out to be surprisingly attractive for such a tiny town with a dwindling population. It has a couple of backpackers, some b&b's, 2 pubs and about 3 campsites. Fortunately we chose the memorial site in the town. This was basically a converted rugby club, the town lost its rugby team when the large dairy facility closed down. The site was well looked after by a lovely retired couple and at 20 dollars for a powered pitch was way below what we were used to paying.
The town basically sits at a dead end, the coastal highway ends at the DOC campsite at Kohahai, a beautiful national park area where the river meets the sea and where there are lots of special walks but beware of the sandflies here. These are  really hungry a would make this a difficult overnight stop.

Down in glacier country at Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

Just pulled in off the road as we travelled south. I think it was called Lake Ianthe.

It was early morning and again no crowds.

Lake matheson near Fox looking at Mt Cook.

Famous Fox Glacier behind us.

Looking up the valley to Fox Glacier.

More picsfrom today

Hokitika beach too wild to swim in.

Hokitika

Home for the next 9 nights

photos from last couple of days.

Our final day at Golden Bay was spent doing a 4 hour walk along the northern section of The Abel Tasman trail. We also stopped at the famous Muscle Inn for a pint. This was despite the fact that they were hosting the ZZ Top and Roy Wood/ Wizard Appreciation societies, as everyone had long greying hair, beards and matching hairy legs! And as the man on thestage says..."and that was just the women folks.
After dropping Tim off in Nelson we then stayed 3 nights at a good backpackers in St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes. This was a picture perfect place that had one hotel and a petrol station that also functioned as a supermarket, shop, cafe, and chippy. It was Saturday afternoon when we arrived here and despite it being in high season there were only 3 other cars in the lakeside carpark.
We did loads of walking and managed the summit of mt.Robert.
After this we had 3 relaxing days at a b&b in Hanmer Springs where we walked,played pitch n putt and tried the hotspring pools. There were also some neat bars and restaurants here.
After Hanmer we returned to Christchurch were we walked Sumner beach and the coastal path at Taylors mistake. We  also went out for a nice meal with Tim and Shanty.
Whilst in Christchurch there was an International buskers event which we visited but couldn't find any buskers. It appeared to really be something like the Edinburgh festival with mainly comedians performing at charging venues. They may have been really funny but I just found the admission prices enogh to make me laugh so continued searching for the elusive buskers.
Sunday 25th saw us pick up a motorhome on hire for 10 days. So off we "headed for the highway looking for adventure"  on the wild west coast.
At the moment we are in Hokitika and have had a great day visiting the lakes and gorges.

Hokitika gorge

Gorge

Gorge

Now who wrote that top one on the towns Bucket list.

Recent pics

Farewell spit golden bay

Wharariki beach golden bay

Nelson lakes

Nelson lakes.

Hanmer Sprlngs

Lookout over Hanmer

Lookout

Taylors Mistake beach Christchurch

Taylors Mistake.

Iconic 1969 Albom cover...send answers to Phil

golden bay

We arrived in Golden Bay on 13th, staying at the Inlet Backpackers near Collingwood. What a contrast to Old Macs. Here we have a timber cottage, overlooking a large lawn with flower beds. Inside we have a double and single bed with a full kitchen. Before we arrived here we stopped at Te Waikeropupu springs, where the purity and clarity of the water is beaten only by Easter Island and the nearby blhe lake in Nelson.
This is a real chill out place with great walks and lovely beaches.

Golden Bay photies

Waikoropupu springs only 2 places in the world have clearer water,,,Easter island and nearby Blue Lake

Heading up Nugget hill

View from top of Nugget

Our cottage!

Golden bay spit

Seal on Wharariki beach

Wharariki

Same beach ...another seal

Same beach

Abel Tasman

The Abel Tasman nature park is partially comprised of a breathtakingly beautiful piece of coastline. If you imagine an amalgam of the Costa Brava and the French Riviera with all of the buildings, roads and crowds removed from it and then strategically place a walking trail along the edges of its deep turquoise sea: only then will you be somewhere close to replicating what Abel Tasman has. The only negative was the poor campsite and backpackers at Old McDonalds Farm. However we didn't let the place get us down and really enjoyed our stay in Abel Tasman.

Abel Tasman National Park

Nelson NZ

Great drive up from Kaikoura taking in the coastal highway and the mountain ranges of Marlborough. Two nights in a really nice motel close to beach. Not been in to Nelson centre but this part is really nice. Just after arriving went swimming on Tahunanui beach and yesterday drove about 10 miles to an attractive large parkland called Rabbit island. Yet another great beach but as I came out of the water a dead shark was washed up about 100 yds away! Today we go into the Abel  Tasman national park to a backpackers called Old McDonalds....eye aye eye aye oh! Not likely to get internet there so bye for awhile.

Beach at Rabbit Island.

Dead shark washed up. Don't think its a killer...well not now!