Tue Up about 8:30. S and J are organic bread makers and we had their rye bread for breakfast plus their own muesli. After a walk around their estate to see the horses, sheep, chickens, and dogs, Sandra drove us round Christchurch to see the earthquake destruction and out to the coast. What a shock to see how much had been trashed, the complete CBD. John joined us for lunch in Ballantyres the department store where we bought some merino icebreakers for the girls. Back to airport to catch the 16:00 to Nelson to be met by John, Eve and Charlotte, what a reunion.
Back to their beachside cool pad at Ruby Bay. Lots of fizz, local beer, Pinot noir while dinner was prepared and plans made for the next few weeks.
WedDrove up to the end of the island to stay at Puonga on Golden Bay. Very alternative lifestyle. We took their bikes and went up the hill to the Overlook cafe, overlooking Farewell Spit, glass of wine and a beer for me. On way back found John and Lulu carrying out the canoe for a paddle. The tide was rather low but after a few groundings they caught the current under the bridge and went a few hundred yards down the river till they grounded again. I cycled along the river bank with the canoe wheels, and we all walked back to the cottage. BBQed sausages for dinner.
Thu Off early to the beach at W..... Parked and walked through the dunes to one end, then along seeing the archway rocks. Came across a baby seal. Tide came in so we had to scramble ("bushwhack") up the dunes to find the path along the hilltop back to the car where we found an alternative guy from Cardiff selling coffees out of a van stuck halfway up the hillside.
Back to Puonga to catch the bus for the Farewell Spit lighthouse tour. Great guide with dry humour. Went over 30km along sand (memories of Saudi and Oman) to lighthouse and back seeing birdlife but no stranded whales.
We all went for a swim in the river, seeing a couple of large seals on the rocks opposite but they didn't want to play with us. Chilli for evening meal.
Fri Back to Ruby Bay via Wharariki Where we saw the extent of the washouts from the December floods. Started to hike along the coast but path under tide so turned back. started to hike to the Wainui Falls but again we read the path was washed out so didn't bother.
Dinner was a beer at Mapua Wharf Golden Bear Brewery and fish and chips and hot smoked salmon from the Smokehouse. great evening.
Sat Took Lulu to airport, then into Nelson to wander around Market. Cherry bought me a pendant so I am now a complete alternative lifestyle NZander. Drove around hillside behind Nelson seeing houses, views, cathedral, oldest street in NZ. Bought fish for dinner.
Sun hired bikes from Mapua Wharf and took flat bottomed ferry over to Rabbit Island. V. Cycle friendly with MTB park, great fun to swoop up and down the hillocks.
Met Eve and Charlotte for picnic lunch. Ferry ride on way back passed close to the nudist beach where we saw a few dangley bits, not very pleasant. Dropped bikes off and drove up to Wollaston Winery for super views and tastings.
Cracked open a bottle of their bubbly and sat on terrace dreaming of owning such a place. Drove by old settles cottage 1860.
decided to carry on drinking so down to Golden Bear where Tiai, the brewmeister and "friend" of Charlottes gave us a tour, amazing stainless steel vats and pipes,
two pints and listen to the one man band singing Don Maclean. he was very pissed off with Jackson and Lord of the Rings as they dropped him and his horses from the films.
BBQ on beach, sitting round fire embers, and relatively early night.
Sun Walked along beach to Mapua, not able to avoid seeing more dangley bits.
Had to track our way across mud flats but made it relativley cleanly. Had lovely time, coffee, bacon and egg pie, bought hats, bought jewellery, tea and chilled.
Walked back along road and ate oranges on beach seat.
John took us out to Rimu Grove winery for tasting
With views across estuary to Nelson hills. Chatty winemaker with a small output, quite expensive.
Then off to Neudorf winery, the oldest one in the Moutere valley settled by German immigrants. wine more reasonable than the earlier one, again lovely views over foothills. John bumped into owners who he knew having picked grapes there in 1996. Went to see Upper Moutere village and St Pauli Lutheran church, then had a few pints at the Moutere Inn, the oldest pub in New Zealand
In evening had dinner on the deck of the Jellyfish cafe in Mapua wharf, with good service from owner waitress who had just bought and restarted place a month ago. Only a few other people there, and decor was flat inside, we hoped they would make a success.
Back for after dinner entertainment
Tue Rained heavily during night, but cleared over breakfast. We drove via Motuaka to Marahau beach at the start of the Abel Tasman Park. After coffee and a look round the wood carvings
We walked along the track and beach
to Stus Lookout and back. Drove along coast via K....., lunch at M... Then back to Mapua where we went to the wharf for a drink
And walk back via the sea wall to make dinner - mussels and fish
I think you may be turning into hippies! x
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