20/02/2021
Eleven months ago while touring the top half of the South Island of New Zealand, our journey was interrupted by the rapidly escalating threat of COVID-19. New Zealand closed it's borders and went into lock down at midnight of March 25th, 2020. We had two days to return to our home in Christchurch, having completed one and a half months of our planned three month journey.
Now back in Nelson and ready to finish what we started, our adventure continues. We feel privileged to live in a country where we are able to do this with virtually no restrictions, while other countries are still in full or partial lock down due to COVID-19.
Today we started with a visit to the Nelson Saturday Market in central Nelson. This market has been running for many years and is well worth a look, with a wide range of arts, crafts, produce and ethnic food.
Whilst in Central Nelson we took a stroll in this pretty city, one of our favourites.
In the afternoon we donned our walking shoes and wandered along the Maitai River Track from Gibb Bridge for a couple of hours. This peaceful track in a semi rural setting is so close to the city from where it starts.
Our parking place for the night was Spring Grove Reserve and Hall.
21/02/2021
After a relaxed start to our day, we drove to Aniseed Valley and on to the car park for the Hacket track in the Richmond Forest Park. The Hacket Track follows Hacket Creek and gives access to Hacket Hut and to historical Chromate mines. However, after about three kilometres we took the side track, crossing Hacket Creek bed, to the Whispering Falls. These falls were pretty, but I suspect, not at their best in the dry Summer conditions. We returned to our starting point along this well formed track which has several bridges, the first of which crosses the Roding River at the car park, above a large swimming hole. A total distance of 7.4 kilometres.
Once again we returned to Spring Grove, the birthplace of Lord Ernest Rutherford, New Zealand's best known scientist. Staying another night at the reserve on Lord Rutherford Road South where the Spring Grove Drill Hall stands. This hall is well known for being the place where WOW (World of Wearableart) began in 1987.
22/02/2021
Following a short visit to Richmond for provisions we set off for Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park where we checked into West Bay, Department of Conservation campsite. A beautiful location very close to the lake and 100 metres to the lake outlet and source of the Buller River. We were enthusiastically greeted by an abundant population of sandflies. A quiet afternoon and evening followed.
23/02/2021
Another fine day weather wise started with a bit of early fishing along the foreshore and outfall to the Buller River. This would surely be the only place that the Buller River can be waded across, knee deep.
We took the 'Anglers Walk' beside the Buller River to the State Highway 63 bridge and return. Ironically, for most of the length of the 'Anglers Track' the river is quite distant or very difficult to reach.
The landscape is very rocky due to glacial moraine that has been dumped in a previous Ice Age, with some very large rounded boulders standing alone.
Another walk beside Lake Rotoiti in the late afternoon sunshine admiring the views of the lake and surrounding mountains finished the day for another night staying at West Bay.
24/02/2021
First stop for the day was Kerr Bay on the other arm of Lake Rotoiti close to the settlement of Saint Arnaud. The much photographed jetty had a large congregation of tame eels underneath.
With the threat of worsening weather predicted for Nelson Lakes area we were destined for Lake Argyle, in the Wairau Valley. This network of canals and Lake Argyle storage reservoir delivers water diverted from the Branch River to Trustpower's Argyle power generation scheme. We visited this location on day twenty four of our journey and Blog in February 2020. Nothing more exciting than fishing for trout in the lake to report so I won't bore you with the details. Trustpower allow freedom camping in Certified Self Contained vehicles within designated areas, so we stayed the night.
25/02/2021
Nothing really to report today. A little more fishing. A walk beside the lake inlet canal towards the Branch River and concrete dam which controls the water flow to the whole power generation scheme.
A move to Kowhai Point, DOC campsite on the bank of the Wairau River. There was a Roadman stationed here living in a cottage, since demolished, from the mid 1930's until 1968. The Department of Conservation is restoring the reserve which was overgrown with weeds to protect rare plants growing here. A pleasant place to spend a night.
26/02/2021
Retracing our route four days earlier, we took the Tophouse Road back to Belgrove on State Highway 6. Travelling west over the Spooner Range we stopped to walk through the disused Spooners rail tunnel and back, including the wooded approach cuttings. Constructed between 1891 and 1893 as part of the Nelson to Glenhope railway, it is the fifth longest tunnel open to walkers and cyclists worldwide at 1352 metres. The railway was intended to connect Nelson through Murchison to the West Coast. It was never completed and was closed down in 1955. The tunnel is neatly lined with concrete blocks for it's entire length, barring a short section of bricks and is easy walking or biking. Take a good torch as it is extremely dark with the ends barely visible in the middle. Well worth the effort.
Back on the road we turned right at Kohatu to travel down the Motueka River valley to Maclean Reserve on the east bank of the river. The day had become hot and sunny so we finished it with a swim in one of the many pools the on this remarkably pretty river.
27/02/2021
A leisurely morning on a fine day by the peaceful Motueka River. But with it's huge watershed it can become a raging torrent. We have experienced it rising three metres in three hours at Maclean Reserve, creating the kind of forces that have sculptured mysterious shapes into the rock outcrops.
During the afternoon we took a side trip from our intended destination of Motueka to explore the Baton River valley. Travelling 13 kilometres to the end of the road alongside the Baton River as it tumbled and cascaded over rocks and boulders. We weren't quite able to reach the Kahurangi National Park, but we were treated to spectacular views of the Arthur Range shrouded in threatening rain clouds.
28/02/2021
Dusted our push bikes off today to have a look around some of the coastal areas of Motueka, after having stayed the night there. Starting from Motueka Beach Reserve, we biked around the 'Inlet View' shared pathway which circles a large tidal inlet contained by the Wharf Road causeway across which we returned on a dedicated cycleway and boardwalk.
We had a break and a snack in our motorhome while we waited for a shower of rain to pass. Following this we biked along the foreshore and Motueka sandspit track passing the abandoned hulk of the Janie Seddon rusting on the mud flats. A ship with a colorful past including two world wars as a submarine mining vessel at Wellington, a later life as Talley's first fishing boat and reports of firing the first shots of World War Two.
Many birds including White Faced Herons and Pied Stilts wading in the estuary and on the sandspit. Another night staying near Motueka close to the Motueka River.
