It's been so long and so much to tell you all, so grab yourselves a cuppa or glass of wine.The week before last was a whirlwind of adventure with Angie's friend joining us just for the week. Before the update I want to tell you all about the gorgeous Takaka, on the stunning Golden Bay. Apparently this place is the business centre for Golden Bay! It's tiny, full of lovely little shops, gallery's, cafes, musty museum and very peaceful people. The Mardis Gras was great fun, held on the village green, there was live music, drumming, poetry readings, dancing and fire show. After a few beers Angie and I retired to the car park for a sleep.
Just a little on from Takaka we discovered a fresh water river where we camped the next night ( despite it saying no camping and flooding in wet weather!). It was the perfect place for our morning wash (bloody freezing) before venturing to Te Waikoropupu Springs, the largest fresh water Springs in New Zealand. The river we washed in came directly from the springs. Sadly we could not swim in the springs despite them being so inviting! The springs had its very own dancing sand created from the water being propelled upwards and apparently it is the clearest in the world.So the hole in the Muffler was an interesting comment made to us while on our way collecting Georgina. We had to stop at some road works in the Tasman range when a guy approached the car and told me I had a hole in my muffler, looking a little perplexed and really wanting to laugh I just smiles and said thanks!!! Why thanks I don't know. So the word for exhaust in NZ is Muffler-brilliant. And yes we still have that hole in our muffler. I'm so easily pleased!
It was lovely to have Georgina with us for the week, much laughter and crazy moments had. We managed to actually plan some things which meant a lot of driving but we got to
see loads of the South Island all in one week! After collecting Georgina and a whistle top tour of Nelson we headed back to the Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay. The weather started to turn at this point and Georgina was had her first experience of being in a tent in rain and wind! We camped at a beautiful site in Totaranui, right on the peninsula of Abel Tasman National Park. We camped a few meters from the beach. I have never seen sand so orange, it reminded us of the orange sherbet we got as kids! I paddled with a stingray before remembering they sting!The next 
day we headed towards the West Coast, driving across the Island though some stunning mountain ranges including the Tasman Mountains. We were due to do some kayaking, however this no longer seemed appealing with the wind and rain! There was no stopping us when we reached the Buller Gorge area. Sheer faced rugged mountains and gorge, we had to try the Comet which looked far scarier than it was. We had adult sized nappy harness thing and zip wired over the gorge. It wasn't fast and the worse bit was trying to get off! The swing bridge was my favorite! This will be as adventurous as Angie and I get in the extreme sport of NZ. We like the tamer stuff!
day we headed towards the West Coast, driving across the Island though some stunning mountain ranges including the Tasman Mountains. We were due to do some kayaking, however this no longer seemed appealing with the wind and rain! There was no stopping us when we reached the Buller Gorge area. Sheer faced rugged mountains and gorge, we had to try the Comet which looked far scarier than it was. We had adult sized nappy harness thing and zip wired over the gorge. It wasn't fast and the worse bit was trying to get off! The swing bridge was my favorite! This will be as adventurous as Angie and I get in the extreme sport of NZ. We like the tamer stuff! We managed to visit some more seals at Cape Foul Wind (great name) but still no blue or yellow eyed penguins.....this is upsetting Angie now...
We stayed at another great campsite on the west coast at Punakaiki, next to another beach and walking distance from the Pancake Rocks and blow holes. The drive to the camp site was beautiful, coastal road from Westport ( the first town we got to the the west coast), with miles and mile of sandy, deserted beaches.
Clue in the title with the Pancake rocks, amazing rock formations that look like piled up pancakes. Some
isolated by the sea and some attached to the headland. All crazy shapes and sizes from the sea continually eroding the limestone rocks. Luckily it was high tide and we were able to see the water being forced through the holes in some of the rocks, looking like a cloud of mist jetting towards the sky.
isolated by the sea and some attached to the headland. All crazy shapes and sizes from the sea continually eroding the limestone rocks. Luckily it was high tide and we were able to see the water being forced through the holes in some of the rocks, looking like a cloud of mist jetting towards the sky.
Our mission, to get to the Glaciers on the west coast before heading back through Central South Island for Georgina to fly out of Christchurch on the east coast. A lot of the towns we passed en route Angie and I will do again on our way North as we did not have time, bu
t the drive was lovely and the most impressive, the Southern Alps on our way to the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. I keep writing about the landscape but it really is amazing. One minute beautiful coastal roads and the next mountains piercing the sky with their snowy tops, awesome! The clouds came tumbling in and restricted the views of the Alps but still the clouds added their own mysterious feel as they blanketed the mountains, some from view at all
. I've never seen a glacier, it was a totally brilliant experience. We manged to camp at lake Mapourika which had view looking across at Franz Josef Glacier. The night was spent drinking wine in the car as the rain and cloud decided to stay. Georgina seemed to luck out on the good weather!
We were able to get much closer to Fox Glacier, just 80m from the terminal face, but still it enticed you to go closer. The hazard warning signs was enough of a hint for us while others climbed over the fence for a closer look. Angie and I hope to go back to the glaciers and do a guided tour so we can touch!
We were able to get much closer to Fox Glacier, just 80m from the terminal face, but still it enticed you to go closer. The hazard warning signs was enough of a hint for us while others climbed over the fence for a closer look. Angie and I hope to go back to the glaciers and do a guided tour so we can touch!
We travelled back to the east coast via the famous tramping track, Arther's Pass, which was stunning but again no clear views of the mountains as the clouds were still taking a rest close to earth.
With the weather being pretty rubbish, the tent soaking and Georgina's last night, we decided to treat ourselves to a motel in Durfield, just outside of Christchurch. What a treat.......Angie and tend to find some 'interesting' places to stay on our travels, this was no different. 
The motel seemed more for locals and the bar was deffo for the locals. The people were welcoming but not sure we helped ourselves when we decided to start our usual childish games of fake laughing which turned into hysterically laughing while in the bar......the locals seemed relieved when we retired to bed! Sleeping in a bed was lush but I missed the sound of the world outside.
The motel seemed more for locals and the bar was deffo for the locals. The people were welcoming but not sure we helped ourselves when we decided to start our usual childish games of fake laughing which turned into hysterically laughing while in the bar......the locals seemed relieved when we retired to bed! Sleeping in a bed was lush but I missed the sound of the world outside.I will love you and leave you for a short while, this can be the first installment, I have much more to share. I hope all is good at home for people. Miss you and sending lots of love xx
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