04/03/2021After two days of rain and repairing a roof leak on our motorhome we returned to Motueka yesterday afternoon to continue our travels.
Time to kill in Motueka today so we visited Te Maatu / Thorp Bush, a 4.6 hectare remnant stand of lowland podocarp forest right in the heart of Motueka township. This reserve is indicative of the forests that once covered large parts of the Motueka and Waimea plains and is the largest remnant still existing.
A visit to Raumanuka Reserve, the Motueka Sandspit with views across Tasman Bay and the small peninsula in the Motueka estuary where the first settlers to Motueka landed in 1842, commemorated by a cairn.
Late in the afternoon we made our way to Marahau at the start of the Abel Tasman Track. Large numbers of wading birds foraged on the sand flats at low tide, including abundant White Faced Herons, while we walked on the beach.
The golden sand beaches in this area are of picture postcard beauty and are typified by Kaiteriteri Beach which is very popular.
05/03/2021
Out of bed promptly this morning in preparation for catching a 9:00 am water taxi from Marahau to Anchorage in Abel Tasman National Park. First stop was at Split Apple Rock a round natural granite formation looking as if it were cut with a knife. Scientists believe that it was split so cleanly by a process called ice wedging. Water collected in a stress crack in the rock froze and expanded during an ice age 120 million years ago, cleaving the rock cleanly in half.
After being put ashore at Anchorage by the water taxi we started on the four hour walk back along the Abel Tasman Track to Marahau. The native forest, the coastal scenery and the golden beaches are breath taking. So rather than trying to explain any further, I'll let our photographs do the talking.
Along with a couple of very brazen Wekas we enjoyed this excursion immensely and we are planning to do other sections of the Abel Tasman Track using the water taxis for transfers.
06/03/2021
Our overnight location was the W F Moss scenic reserve DOC campground in the Riwaka Valley not far from the Riuwaka River Resurgence. Situated on the north branch of the Riuwaka River this deep pool is fed by water emerging mysteriously from an opening in the Takaka hills which are full of caves and sinkholes.
07/03/2021 - 08/03/2021
Two days spent with friends in Nelson undertaking more sealing work as our roof leak continues to plague us.
Tomorrow we are leaving our motorhome in Nelson and flying to Auckland for a week in the hope of seeing Team New Zealand defend their title as holders of the Americas Cup at the 36th Americas Cup regatta. We will continue our Blog when we return.
A memorable destination in Upper Moutere where we have enjoyed splendid atmosphere and lunches is the Moutere Inn. Established in 1850, it is claimed to be New Zealand's oldest pub in it's original building.
09/03/2021 - 16/03/2021
A great week spent with friends, family and soaking up the atmosphere of the America's Cup regatta in the 'City of Sails', Auckland. Although this diversion has little relevance to our adventure in the top of the South Island, it was a thrilling experience getting up close to Emirates Team New Zealand and their amazing yacht, 'Te Rehutai'.
Auckland was alive with the yacht racing as Team New Zealand won the regatta, maintaining their title as holders of the 'America's Cup'.
17/03/2021 - 19/03/2021
Our journey this time is somewhat disjointed as we have several friends and family living in Nelson, Golden Bay and Marlborough, which results in us staying with them for short periods. Consequently we are not changing locations or exploring as regularly as we have done. However, while we were staying with friends in Nelson after our return from Auckland, we ambled our way around the Nelson airport perimeter walkway. This easy loop track circumnavigates the airport and runway with a total distance of approximately 5.75 kilometres, providing views of the operational activities at the airport, the Waimea Inlet, Monaco and Rabbit Island.
20/03/2021
Departing Nelson, we were bound for Golden Bay with a diversion through Ruby Bay and an overnight stop at Kina Beach Camp.
We enjoyed an evening walk along the beach beneath tall cliffs of alluvial gravel.
21/03/2021 - 24/03/2021
We have been visiting family in Takaka over this period with much to catch up on. Starting our exploration of Golden Bay was a destination we haven't been to in over 40 years. Kindly loaned a four wheel drive ute by our family, we tackled the long, narrow and winding road up the rugged Takaka River gorge to the Cobb power station and beyond to the Cobb dam and Cobb Reservoir.
We were pleased we had the ute as the road was highly unsuitable for our motorhome, most of it dusty gravel and rough, despite encountering three large trucks on it, which were extremely difficult to pass. The Cobb dam was built between 1936 and 1956 to supply water through 4 kilometre long steel penstocks to the Cobb power station 593 metres below in the Takaka River gorge. At 808 metres above sea level, the Cobb Reservoir is the highest hydro storage lake in New Zealand.
Skirting around the reservoir which is approximately six kilometres long we finally reached the end of the road at Trilobite hut. We spent our afternoon embracing this stunningly beautiful alpine environment also taking a short walk up the Cobb River track before returning to Takaka. This excursion was well worth the effort and thoroughly recommended.
25/03/2021 - 27/03/2021
Two nights spent at Tata Beach enjoying this picturesque and popular location, particularly with holiday makers.
Taking the opportunity presented to us with a fine sunny day we occupied our afternoon walking the Wainui Falls track. From the carpark at the head of Wainui Bay, this track at first briefly crosses farmland before leading up the valley beside the river. Huge granite boulders strewn in the riverbed make an impressive sight when viewed from the large suspension bridge which crosses this gorge. Lush native bush with Nikau Palms and tall Punga ferns surround the track and hillsides leading to this pretty waterfall. At about 3.5 kilometres return, this is one of the best short walks in Golden Bay.
Following the Wainui Falls walk we had a slow stroll along Wainui Beach. Another of Golden Bay's many remarkably beautiful beaches.
PS. Three days later we walked back to Wainui Falls after a night of heavy rain. The waterfall was thundering and the pool was a cauldron.
28/03/2021 - 31/03/2021
Today our travels took us past Wainui Bay and into the Abel Tasman national park for a two night stay at Totaranui. This Department of Conservation camp site is one of the most popular DOC campsites and caters for 850 campers in the Summer holiday season. It also serves as a camp for the Abel Tasman Great Walk which can swell the numbers to 1000. Situated on a sweeping golden sand beach 1.7 kilometres long facing out into Tasman Bay and surrounded by bush covered hills, it is considered a premier Summer holiday destination with demand for camp sites often outstripping availability. Approached through an imposing avenue of trees, a remnant from it's past as a farm, camp sites extend for about a kilometre along the beach.
Keen to experience more of the Abel Tasman Track, we walked the 4.2 kilometre return section from Totaranui to Anapai Bay. An easy bush walk over a low saddle with a well formed track. We were amused by the rock formation at the northern end of the beach which reminded us of the Easter Island statues with it's tuft of hair like grass.
