Photo Gallery of Nelson and Golden bay

February 24th-28th

Nelson, Tahunanui beach

Who's in there?

Local talent

Mapua wharf

Water Taxi at Marahau

Pohara beach sign

 1 of millions

Collingwood beach

Boogie board chick

I'm the naughty rascal!

Back to Picton

Monday 21st February, the afternoon after the 'not such a good idea' whale watch trip, we headed back up the scenic highway to Picton (gateway to the south island). Hugo was keen to check out a miniature railway that was closed when we had previously arrived .... we duely drove back to the railway again, to find it still closed. Even this is still 'summer' we have found a lot of attractions only to be open at weekends.
We checked in to our campsite and found the swimming pool, which quickly cheered the children up.
Next day we awoke to the sound of rain and saw very low cloud (or fog, same thing?) out of the windows. Shame because today we had planned to do the Queen Charlotte Drive, a scenic drive from which can be seen the sounds from great high up view points! ....Pictures to follow ....

Where is the sun?

The drive is incredibly winding and narrow, but it was worth it despite the lack of good weather to make it look even more stunning.
We stopped in Havelock for lunch at a well known spot called 'The Mussell Pot'. It was here that I had a text from my brother in the UK asking if we had experienced any 6.3 earthquakes recently? That text came 40 minutes after the quake had happened. He had noticed the end of a news bulletin before going to bed at half past midnight. During the day we gathered more information of the quake and its devastating effect. That night we ended up camping at Cable Bay. A beautiful, quiet and remote part of the coast. But unfortunately we had no internet access or mobile signal to make contact home or to read any news. It also gave us our first experience of the dreaded 'sand fly'. Worse than mosquitoes.

Lunch time in Havelock

Remote in Cable Bay

Wednesday 23rd February we left Cable bay and headed for Nelson. As we approached the town a barrage of text messages came through both our phones from friends and family checking that we were not near the devastation in Christchurch.....

Kaikoura

After a lovely 2 days in the land of Sauvignon Blanc, we ventured further along the Marlborough coast (stunning scenery) to Kaikoura. Famous for Whale watching. Along the route we stopped at Wharanui to look for our house sitters (Todd) father, who would be at the beach collecting his crayfish pots. The beach was beautiful. 3 colours of turquoise was the ocean and the beach covered in grey volcanic pebbles of varying sizes. The backdrop of lush, bush covered hilly terrain. We failed to spot Todd's father sadly. (We had had tea with Margaret, his mother, and sister, Nina though, the day before).
We stopped next to view a colony of NZ fur seals sun bathing and swimming off rocks just by the highway.
Finally to the next camp at Kaikoura, where we were tightly packed in with other avid whale-watching campers.

View of the road from the back seat

Baby fur seals in a rock pool

The road into Kaikoura

 Monday 21st Feb we were woken at 5.30 am by the sound of an air raid siren, which is the signal for the volunteer fire brigade to assemble for duty. As we looked out of the camper in the dark we could see, and smell, smoke billowing out of a building across the road..... quite frightening. Luckily it wasn't anything to do with the campsite, but a fast food chicken outlet smouldering away.
Anyway, by 6.45am we were up, dressed and waiting in the departure lounge for our boat trip out to watch whales. By 7.15am Hugo had refused to get on the bus to the boat quay, and had further refused, by running away from the boat! .... As they had announced 'high sea sickness' warning and a swell of up to 1m, I thought it best not to pursue Hugo's refusal and gave in to him. Unfortunately Bea and Daddy carried on with the trip.... The photographic evidence (or lack of) proved what a bad idea it was to have taken the boat out that day! Poor Bea (very sick)..... Poor Michael (very covered in sick) ....

The best picture!

Crossing the Straits

We were so lucky ... We had a sunny day and the wind was not strong ... I dread boat journeys, especially across one of the 'windiest stretches of waters in the world'. Mummy spent the 3 hours on the deck staring at the horizon (and spotting A dolphin!) while daddy supervised B and H in the childrens play area. Its wonderful to be able to see both the north and south islands at the same time while crossing. The last hour of the trip is the awesome cruise through the Marlborough Sounds. Unbelievably spectacular...

Faking a smile

South island on left, North on the right

Queen Charlotte Sound

I'm a little teapot...

Hairs away!

Wellington continued...

Our second full day in Wellington was strange, because it was supposed to be spent sightseeing the city again while the Camper was steam cleaned for us .... Unfortunately the guys at Maui, Wellington didn't get the message that we required the full overhaul and therefore were not able to do it for us .... Mummy was not a happy bunny! .... They did manage a change of linen for us and an extra duvet though - big deal. Anyway, since we had the van all day we decided to drive around the bay and look for a nice beach for a picnic. We had the best surprise ever as the scenery and the homes perched on the hillside and dotted all over the place were stunning! To think we could have completely missed out on seeing this..... We found a sweet little spot, in Scorching Bay, quite rocky with a small shore. I made some sandwiches and Bea and Hugo played amongst the rocks building dams. It was pure heaven. We later drove on behind the bay and towards the Ocean which is Cooks Strait and then back round and through the city. Photos will not do it justice, but here are a few....

Scorching Bay

Looking towards Cooks Strait

Island Bay 

Friday 18th February we caught the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait to the South Island ....

Wellington

Wellington Cable Car ride up to The Botanic Garden

 

WOW! Wonderful Windy Wellington has now been added to our list of favourite city's in the world. It has everything. Water, culture, climate, amazing scenery, beautiful houses, friendly people.

Te Papa Museum

We spent 3 days here as we prepared ourselves to leave the north island for the south. Michael celebrated his  birthday here too! We had chocolate birthday muffins for breakfast. We started the day by taking a ride up the cable car to view the city from above. Hugo was allowed to toot the horn on the cable car as it neared the top. Then we visited the Te Papa museum which has prime location on Wellingtons waterfront . NZ's national museum. Its huge, interactive and hi-tec. After that we had dinner at Shed 5, a great fish restaurant also on the waterfront.

Many Happy Returns!

To Palmerston North and beyond

Travelling past vineyard after vineyard and orchard after orchard in the Hawkes Bay area we then headed back west towards Palmerston North. The scenery forever green. Wonder what the population of cows are in NZ? as seem to have seen just as many fields with cows in as sheep!
Just before PN we pass through the most amazing gorge, Manawatu. Above it the land covered in wind turbines.
Palmerston North is a university town, Massey University and has a renowned Rugby museum. We travelled through it and on to the coast to camp at Hamitanga beach.

Slightly worrying sign at Hamitanga

Hawkes Bay

 

Napier, Art Deco capital of the World 

We left Lake Taupo and headed east to the coast and Hawkes Bay, home to a significant number of vineyards and, of course, to Miss Mardon, Bea and Hugo's headmistress at Broomwood. There we stayed in Napier, a colourful town and the Art Deco capital of the World.

B & H whizzing around the campsite 

Taupo continued

Who is that bouncing on the campsite giant pillow?

Craters of the Moon

Lake Taupo

After leaving Rotorua we continued south along the 'Thermal Highway' past numerous thermal pools, mud pools and craters to Lake Taupo, itself a caldera, a volcanic crater filled with water. It is the size of Singapore (660sq km).

Famous for the best trout fishing in the world .... sadly we failed to even get out on the water in the 2 days we stayed! We did manage a visit to the Huka Prawn Farm to fish, but no prawns caught between the 4 of us! The farm was  located on the banks of the Waikato river though, and that brought great thrills to Hugo as we watched the Huka Falls Jet boat whizzing past at regular intervals thrilling its passengers....

Fishing for the elusive prawns!

Huka Falls Jet boat

Waikaito River heading to Huka Falls

Rotorua

Bea and her friend

Geyser and thermal pools at the thermal village

Bubbling mud pools

B and H at Silcock School

Auckland and heading south

After a quick linen change at the Maui office in Auckland and an accidental detour through the city centre, we headed south down Highway 1 to Waitomo, famous for its caves.
Hugo refused wholly and completely to go into the caves, but Michael managed to bribe him with a $10 note which Hugo then negotiated up to $20! The cave visit included a boat trip in the dark to see the thousands and thousands of gloworms. It was really amazing! Bea was utterly in awe and in fact, Hugo has not stopped talking about the trip since!!
We had our first rainfall here, but it didn't seem to deter B and H from using the camp swimming pool.
Next destination Rotorua.....

Back to Auckland in 2 days

Norfolk pine at sunset 90 mile beach

90 mile beach

Opo the dolphin sculpture at Opononi

Zip wire at Traunson forest campsite