So after another amazing breakfast cooked by Renee we went to Waikoropupu Springs.

The water in the pools was so clear and very deep. There was a great volume of water swirling up. The strange thing is the water runs straight out to the close by coast. The water in the Springs is sacred to the maoris And reputed to be one of the purest quality in the world, and they thank you for not touching it. There is a huge water shortage here and the water tables are falling. The farmers are buying water to keep going. We have seen the huge containers of water one per van being taken around the area. The grass on the hillsides is yellow.

We explored gravel tracks in the Whanganui inlet but it was low tide and it was a huge expanse of mud marsh and bog. Not so interesting but many birds there

We called at Pakawau beach. Again a huge expanse of sand and no one there but us. We walked out to the tide line to see the black swans and oyster catchers.

Next idea was to explore the other end of Golden Bay. It is a hidden delight and photographers heaven. Rocks beaches fallen trees long shadows. I hope you like my photos. I went for a paddle the water was warm and shallow. There are thousands of shells here.

We noticed loads of pukeko birds in the fields. Tomorrow we are spending all day in this end of the Bay. There is a waterfall to walk to and a coastal path to explore and definitely going swimming in the warm water.

Sorry to hear you have freezing cold conditions no really I am! I do like to see snow as well.

Very hot again by teatime was 29*c.

It’s strange to think you are just waking up as I’m writing this and we’ll be sleeping through your daytime.

Love from me xxxx

Hot again today.

At breakfast we were given yoghurt muesli fresh fruit juice from their fruit trees. Then a fab plate full of bacon eggs kiwi fruit potato cake shredded carrot (yes for brekkies!) and salad.

Toast and cake. Phew. They said but you are English the English like big breakfasts!

We ate it too!

We went along Golden Bay and stopped at a viewing place. It was a bit misty first thing.

We were going to see the beach with the caves pools and baby seals. The road changes to a dusty track and we followed this to the end where you park up. There is a campsite there and a cafe. We saw peacocks there.

You walk a long way through farmland and onto a huge sand dune. We walked up and down it was strenuous.

On the beach it was misty, that cooled down the temperature and was pleasant to walk in.

The tide was right out, we were told to go at low tide to see the pools and caves where the seals would be.

They were so cute and adorable. 4 babies were playing together in a pool. They are in a shadow so not sure if it is easy to see on my pics.

THEN A DRAMA STARTED

The mother seal appeared and made a terrible noise. One little seal came up to her to be fed.

She kept on calling. The other 3 came to her too. She didn’t like that and pushed them away. They were not her babies. Then a black swan got quite cross defending the area he was in.

The parent seal and the swan had a fight. The parent seal was separated from her baby by the angry swan. The seal got back to her pup and then to our distress pushed one of the other babies down into the water. The swan attacked it so it went back to the big seal who pushed it back again. It was sad to watch. The pup was being hurt by both. It managed to go back to the cave pool again to safety. Another huge seal appeared from the sea behind the swan it must have swum through the arched cave.

We left then but fascinating to watch them. Obviously not a fair world for baby seals!

The walk back up the dunes was tiring. We went to the next town along Collingwood. Again lots of new age /healing cafes a bit weird for us oldies.

It was in the 30*s centigrade and very hot. We stopped on the beach along from Collingwood. Not a soul in sight. I sat on the warm rocks sunbathing. Dad walked out towards the sea and saw the sea birds and pools. Loads of shells. The sand sparkles like it has specks of real gold in it.

Back at the b&b now until it gets cooler. I might write more later…

It has been warm and hot today with a little rain and humidity. We have now lost the cold weather I hope!

I just looked at my yesterday’s blog of Pancake Rocks and had to laugh. The photos wouldn’t upload so I assumed. Now I find all my attempts have uploaded and far too many repeated oops! Blame it on this wifi connection here. I can sort it later.

Today we slowly drove along the Lewis Pass and stopped to admire and take pics where we could.

It is a lovely route to take across the South Island. We didn’t go all the way though! Back along a part of Buller Gorge we hadn’t seen yesterday we stopped at a powerful waterfall Maruia Falls on Larry River.

So hopefully my photos work out today xxxx love to you all

Can you spot grandad?

We are back now and enjoying the hot sunshine. We move on tomorrow further North West to Takaka Valley. This time for 5 nights to see all there is up and around that area. It will be quite isolated I think but lots to discover.

Today we travelled to Westport from Reefton along a deep winding gorge called Buller Gorge.

The landscape was so exciting. Blue and white cliffs, deep rivers joining the main river the Black river that twisted and meandered with great amounts of swirling waters. We passed by coal seams exposed on the side of the road. The railway track also followed the river all the way. We saw many birds of prey, wild goats and pukeko and weka birds.

When we got to Westport it was a long town stretching along the railway line, we stopped for coffee.

Along the coast road it was so misty. It was the cold sea air meeting the hot land. Poor visibility and full of atmosphere. We stopped at Cape Foulwind and a seal colony. You couldn’t see the sea and not much of the lighthouse so I took a pic of dad in front of it!

The seal colony was more visible and the high tide and crashing waves made for great photos and viewing.

We were disappointed by the poor visibility but continued on to the Pancake Rocks.

Neither of us realised what we were about to see, they were so amazing. The limestone rock formations and blowholes were fantastic and with the stormy seas it was a scene never to be forgotten. Layers of limestone and mud formed over millions of years and the noise of the waves forced through the bridges and caves was deafening and spectacular. We were so lucky to see it in stormy conditions as the water pounding under and out through blowholes was brilliant.

Hope my pics show this, I did my best! We had never seen rock formations like this ever before.

It was a long way back retracing our steps but we enjoyed the Buller Gorge from the opposite direction

Chilling out now it’s much sunnier and warmer inland going to watch films on NZ tv.

Going inland tomorrow for the day.

 

Hi my lovely family ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️one for every grandchild🤗

We had a really great drive from Haast past lakes round bendy coastlines through rainforest, past glaciers and a stop at hokitiki

Then on past Greymouth to Reefton. Phew what a long way.

First coffee breakfast stop was at Fox glacier. We saw everyone getting ready for helicopter rides over the glaciers to view Mount Cook.

We stopped at the next glacier Franz Joseph and although it takes 90 minutes to walk to the start of the glacier, we opted to walk 30 minutes to a viewing spot. Well we did have a long drive still to do.

Next we drove on leaving the rainforest plants and finding more farming lands and leaving the insects behind thank goodness

We passed ex gold mining towns and eventually came to a seaside town called Hokitiki. Try to say that Louis and Otis.

We found the sun and heat here and summer temps again.

There we found a sand and driftwood competition. Hope you like the photos. There were so many sculptures to walk around and see. I took lots more photos. Do you like Trumps Mexican wall?

We again by chance, met a couple who are travelling the way we are and had another good chat with them.

So through Greymouth and onto Reefton.

We weren’t sure if we’d made a mistake in booking here but it is lovely. A little coal mining town famous for being the first place in the Southern Hemisphere to have electricity and street lights. Also famous for a Fairlie engine steam train made in Bristol at Avonside works… An R28 it articulates with a flexible frame 1879. I haven’t a clue what that means but grandad was very pleased to see it.

We have a lot of space, a large kitchen with even an oven and hob as well as microwave and fridge. A large lounge and bedroom and another small bedroom, a toilet,a bathroom and a patio with artificial grass and comfy chairs. What a shame we only booked 3 nights.

So more exploring tomorrow

Keep in touch with us let us know you are all ok 💕💕💕💕xxxx

Friday 25 Jan today, We travelled north along the coastal road the Haast Highway to see 2 lakes, Lake Moeraki and Lake Paringa.

Then we went on further to a salmon farm / café gift shop. here we had lunch and saw an egret looking at the captive salmon. He had no chance of getting one!

Back in Haast we decided to travel back to Roaring Billy waterfall. We had fun photographing macro images of rainforest plants.

When we got to the river we were amazed to find it had dried up over half its width and we could walk over the pebbles to get much nearer to the waterfall. Grandad put the timer on his camera and we took this pic of us in front of the waterfall

Well we move on tomorrow 400 KM to past Greymouth to Reefton. Its a long journey but at least it wont be raining this time.

 

This is haast beach just across the road from our motel.

We woke up to sunshine and 18*c. The wind has dropped and we have blue skies. What a different day from yesterday!

Haast looks so good today. We can see the tops of the mountains behind us and everything has dried up.

We first retraced our journey through the Gates of Haast and up to the blue pools and to explore all the waterfalls and the valleys.

We first stopped to see a waterfall called Roaring Billy. You walk for 15 mins through a beautiful rainforest to reach a sight of it across the wide fast flowing river Haast.

It is very impressive as you can see.

We stopped at a rest area to take some views of the river and the valley. The noise of the insects was deafening.

Blue Pools stop. We made the mistake of parking on the furthest park from them. We walked up the hillside and down for about 20 mins only to reach the road and the easier parking. From here it was another half hour walk to the river and rope bridges over the blue water. The wire rope bridges were fun to go over as they bounced as everyone moved along them. Only 10 people were allowed on the bridge at a time.

It was like a beach down there. The water was freezing but brave people were swimming and sunbathing. We stayed there a long time. The return walk was all uphill! I’m proud we managed it so well and enjoyed the walk.

Lunch was at the nearest cafe and cups of tea we were thirsty.

On the way down the beautiful road ….and it really descends for 50+ miles! We stopped at view points and waterfalls and did a few little walks to reach the view points. The road is incredible and not at all scary when it is good weather!

This is the Gates of Haast

We are tired now and chilling out watching the TV . Wifi and Tv lost signals all yesterday. Haast is a very remote town!

Hope you enjoyed the snow Anona in Sheffield? Louis and Alice had snow I know, did Oxford get any? Keep warm and well

Love to you all xxx

These are dads pictures

when we left Queenstown the sky was full of clouds, but it was warm. We stopped for coffee at Cardrona

We went over the mountain road to Wanaka and along the road towards the west coast passing Lake Hāwea on the right and then top of lake Wanaka on the left. Then the fun started! We stopped for lunch as the rain started. These are the photos up to lunch and you can see the rain clouds.

Then as we travelled down through Gates of Haast Thunder Creek. We kept descending in torrential rain. Grandad thinks it was worse than 3 years ago and that was very bad! The sides of the mountains were absolutely pouring with waterfalls. It was spectacular but you had to take the road carefully. No photos as we would have been drenched to the skin.

Afterwards when we got to our motel the black clouds moved to the mountains behind us and clearer skies came in from over the sea.

We can’t believe it but it is now beautiful blue skies with white clouds! It’s 8.30 pm and we’ve just had a walk along the beach.

It’s very windy and gusty, quite exhilarating. I will send more photos tomorrow of Haast when hopefully it should be a better weather day. Xxxx

Our motel. There is a road and then a short walk through the vegetation onto the beach.xx

Our last day in Queenstown area today and we decided to visit a few of the lakes starting at lake Wakatipu and go over the high road to Wanaka and beyond.

Today we are in Summer weather and temperatures for the first time 23* to 26*c. Again with wind all the time but a warm wind.

We walked a looooong way along the lake shore at Wanaka. We found the “lone tree” that is famously photo’d. It looked very small from the town but we walked all the way to it and as we got nearer, it is very impressive growing in the lake.

We have certainly caught the sun today.

Next we travelled to Lake Hawea and Lake Dunstan(artificially made by a dam)

We returned to Queenstown via the highway that travels through the gorge where the gold was mostly mined. Megs Falls were impressive and the hydro electric centre.

We then made a visit to Arrowtown but felt it was a commercially made town recreating a gold town and not very well done.

It is still very warm tonight and hopefully we will see a dry Haast tomorrow. If you remember, 3 years ago we had the worst rain we’ve ever experienced continuing for 3 days and nights! Fingers crossed for this timexxx

 

We overslept this morning! The bed was so comfy and the windows blacked out completely and we didn’t wake up at the usual 7.30 ish….

We were booked on the 12 noon sailing of the steam boat so no panic. Queenstown wasn’t quite so busy as yesterday(Sunday)

It was windy but a warmer wind and clear skies with fluffy white clouds. It was a bit blowy on the steam boat but we wrapped up warmly. The trip lasted 1and 1/2 hours and was pleasant. Hope you like my photos of Lake Wakatipu

The mountain pass to Wanaka was breathtakingly beautiful. Loads of hairpin bends and we woke up very high. Again we took lots of stops for the views. We had a break at an historic gold rush town of Cardrona. It has the original buildings there and the bar is now an hotel.

At Wanaka we followed the road around the bottom and left of the lake. We will travel along the other side on our journey to Haast.

We lounged a bit by the lake in the sunshine. We got back here again by 7pm.

Hope the weather stays good tomorrow xxxx

Missing you all as I feel a long way away from you all xxx