55 Entries found for the date period of: 01 October 2007 to 01 November 2007
Pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki
The drive down the West coast is predictably wet and stormy - we snake along the coast watching the waves crash against rocks and rugged beaches.
To our left is the Jurassic style vegetation. We've chosen to stay at a retreat within the temperate rain forest that dominates parts of this area. But first Rob's NZ knowledge helps us to visit the Pancake Rocks.
Pancake rocks
This natural phenomenon is explored via walkways that take you along the cliffs of flat 'pancake' shaped rocks that are stacked on top on one another. The strength of the sea over time has carved huge 'blow holes' in these rocks, and it's pretty amazing to stand literally over these and watch the power of the ocean crash into and surge up these eroded spaces. So after being sprayed by the sea and 'blown' by the weather we head off to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass.
Winding path around the rocks and blow holes
Pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punakaiki
Location on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?q=-42.115592,%20171.329723
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Te Nikau Retreat, Punakaiki
Cabins in the Garden of Eden
This place is just off the main highway towards Punakaiki, but may as well be a 1000 miles away from any civilisation. You turn off the road and immediately the vegetation is above our people carrier and we follow the track down to The Te Nikau Retreat. This place is nestled in temperate rain forest and is just so magical, some places don't deserve their name tag of retreat but this one is just that a real retreat. It's one of the highest BBH rated places and so our expectations were high and we feel they will be met.
Myles feeds a friendly weka at our door
We've pre-booked our little retreat accommodation 'The Tui' by phone, and spoke to the bubbly welsh manager Lisa, who welcomes our arrival with smiles and acknowledges Rob's
HelpX website. She's used his site for along time to find helpers and is pleased to meet the founder at last. (check out his site http://www.helpx.net if you want to travel around the world and work for your accommodation and food!)
Make sure you visit
Anyways we are so blown away by this place you have to look at the pics and come here if you travel to NZ to see for yourself. It is clear it's one of our NZ gems straightaway and makes us dream of what we could achieve with a retreat of our own.
Website:
http://www.tenikauretreat.co.nz
Location on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?q=-42.092732,%20171.345074
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To The West Coast
Dramatic west coast
We leave Kaiteriteri and head over the Takaka Hill Hi-way - Route 60 heading towards the west coast and our next adventure. The weather was closing in but the scenery was as dramatic as ever.
Rob keeps Myles occupied in the back of the people carrier with various pieces of fruit and toys! We arrive on the west coast late afternoon as the light starts to fade - the weather is getting more dramatic and the waves crash against the rugged coast with vigour.
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Ancorage Bay Beach
All too soon again it seems its time to head back to Anchorage Bay to meet the 4 o'clock 'vigour taxi' as we now know it's called, and jump on board for an 'invigorating' trip back to Kaiteriteri. After a few days of chilling out we head off along the west coast to our next destination.
Anchorage Bay
We have about an hour before the boat comes so we slip on the costumes and Myles' wet suit and take a dip in the enticing waters. Just behind the beach is the park rangers' solar powered cabin and water purification station and just down from there one of the many camp sites dotted along the national park.
Surf's Up!
We can't wait to come back, especially when Myles is old enough to walk long distances so that we can walk the full length on the Abel Tasman trail.
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Walk from Anchorage Bay to Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman National Park
We only have a few hours to enjoy our trip so once landed on Anchorage Bay where people are in different states of getting in and out of the sea on kayaks, taxis or taking a dip. We leave Rob to chill out on the beach and head off for a mini 'tramp' through to the next cove, Te Pukatea. (Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?q=-40.953407,%20173.064065 )
Robinson Crusoe eat your heart out
This area is just amazing, basically you can camp here and the boats will carry all of your belongings around to the next bay or walk area whilst you walk or 'tramp' without carrying your backpacks. There are also cabins you can stay in and we pass by a number of families and groups who have decided to do this. We on the other hand pick our way up the hilly track with Myles in his super stroller - Chariot which again wins over the uneven and challenging terrain.
On our way to the cove we have to keep stopping as we can't believe the hum of what can only be an awful lot of bees! We at first think its a generator or something as the hum is so intense, and then we notice the amount of Manuka bushes that are surrounding us. Feeling a little unsure if we will come across a swarm or dozen! we arrive at the next cove which is a stunning tiny natural beach complete with driftwood to die for (I do like a nice bit of driftwood it makes me feel all 'Robinson Crusoe'!) and the vegetation falls down to the sea and clings to rocks.
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Abel Tasman by boat
Speed demon!
The Abel Tasman National Park (
More Info) was always on our list of places to see and things to do in New Zealand. We only have enough time to spend a day there so we decide to get a fast boat rather than walk 2-3 hours into the park.
Wilsons Water Taxis"
We booked our tickets with Wilsons in Kaiteriteri (
http://www.abeltasman.co.nz/) in one of the huts just by the side of the playground in Kaiteriteri..
Our buoyant boy
Our mode of transport is of course what we expect a boat - what we are a little surprised by is the speed this 'speed boat' goes! Well as usual Myles takes the journey in his stride which is under a hour - sometimes cruising and at other times going at a serious rate of knots - with big bumps over the wake of the waves, we bounce along feeling a little queasy whilst Myles tucks into a jam sandwich! wondering what all the fuss is about! .
Split Apple Rock
We pass some fantastic scenery as we glide and bump around the coastline, such as Split Apple Rock. Before you know it we head into Anchorage Bay (
Google Maps location) to start our adventure!
Anchorage Bay
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Moroccan in Motueka
Moroccan delights
Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?q=-41.112406,%20173.010999
We found a great Moroccan restaurant in Motueka. Indeed, there are many wonderfull bars, shops and restaurants there. So if you fancy some good grub and Moroccan coffee and even a puff on a Hookah head you know where to go.
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Kaiteriteri
Link to Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?q=-41.037470,%20173.016840
Golden hour on Kaiteriteri beach
We were going to originally stay in a town called Motueka where we had a great Moroccan meal, but with thoughts of the sea not far away we decide instead to head for the start of the Abel Tasman and carry on a few miles to Kaiteriteri. This little place is our first glimpse of the stunning golden sand and the natural beauty of the region.
Flashpacking in style
We decide a motel come hostel would be ideal and stay at the Kaiteri lodge (
http://www.kaiterilodge.co.nz/) - which is run by a friendly young couple from Holland who made us feel right at home. The rooms were really clean and the kitchen was great. The lodge has quite a few dorm beds and lots of en suite rooms with double beds and bunks, fridge, dvd player and TV and wireless internet - perfect for $100 / night! Rob manages to get a shared room for around $20 so he was also very pleased. More of a hotel than a hostel hence the key fobs...
Boats leave from the beach front to the Abel Tasman
The sea front here consists of a campsite / camper park, a couple of places to eat, several small sheds/ huts housing the various companies operating tours around the Abel Tasman and great park and fantastic children's playground (yet again!) where Myles could make himself at home.
Myles at the great playground
We choose to chill out for a couple of days so Craig could catch up on work.
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Nelson
All too soon it's time to move on and we take the long drive to Nelson. We arrive here on Saturday late afternoon, and the approach to the city is dotted along the coast with properties that sit comfortably within the hills. The weather was a little inclement so we decide to check in to the accommodation before we find something for dinner. Our first impression of Nelson is not what we were expecting, it's more modern than we thought it would be with a little dated civic appearance. We think it reminds us of a town close to where we live and this feels a tad disappointing. We've also chosen to stay one night in the highest rated BBH hostel in Nelson, so hope of a little comfort. The hostel is run by a young English guy called Anthony whose continuous smile, ensures you can't feel disappointed for long. His place is friendly and busy but a little full on and dare I say it 'young' for us. Boy do I feel old saying that but it's true! Anyway we fit our 30 something family into this little hip backpackers the best we can and make the most of it and get a quiet nights sleep.
Nelson Sunday Market
As we've missed the Saturday market we decide to check out the Sunday one, which turns out to be a NZ carboot type of deal. Nevertheless, interesting to get a close look at the locals - who appear to enjoy their city and have a relaxed, hippy way of living which bears itself with the wares on offer. Before discounting the region for one city we head on deciding that there's more to Nelson region than at first glance, and drive along the coast.
Nelson Sunday Market
Nelson Sunday Market
Our first stop off point is a sleepy little artisan village that I loved called Mapua. It has some very hip and funky cafes, including a traditional 'smoke house' for fish suppers and a few galleries to show off the local arts scene. This village and others we pass is set around some really pretty countryside where it seems small vin yards are happy to be next to apple orchards and pumpkin fields.
Rabbit Island
Rabbit Island
Along our drive we check out Rabbit Island which is a coastal protected sand spit that is heavily forested in areas with clearings for picnics and barbies. It reminds us of our local haunt Sutton Park back home, but by the sea and the people here are enjoying their lazy Sunday afternoon, it's a real family place and reminds us of our friends at home. Our travels today are filled with thoughts of our Abel Tasman Trip.
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Hopewell Retreat, Marlborough
http://hopewell.co.nz/
Location on Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/?q=-41.191181,173.932779
Our drive to Hopewell snakes around part of the Queen Charlotte Sound it takes 3 and a half hours to get there, with the last part of the journey on a dusty unsealed road that has Craig reaching for the 4 wheel drive button and grappling with the steering wheel on occasion to stop us skidding!
Hopewell
Hopewell is a beautiful BBH lodge which has the highest score in the country. You can see why when you check out the facilities and its location. Nestled in a sheltered and fairly remote bay the small group of buildings lie in beautifully landscaped grounds. There are all kinds of accommodation from dorm / shared rooms to a two bedroom self contained cabin with deck and views of the landscaped grounds that gently slope down to the little natural beach where kayaks await to be used. We take a venture around before dinner and decide that we should try out the spa with ocean view before bed.
Rob in his kayak. $10 per stay per person
Next day is one for fooling around with the kayaks great fun, picking giant cockles from the water - weird but Rob assured us they would be great to eat and unsuspectingly getting eaten by sandflies not such fun! Anyways we retreat back to our cottage for a lunch and am informed by the owner that the cockles are 'giants!' and we can add them to the shellfish feast that was happening that evening.
Shellfish Feast
Not being a great fan of shellfish, Craig kindly cooks up a great Italian dinner and so the boys have the shellfish including our catch of the day cockles as their entree and we all retire to bed happy and full.
The shared cooking facilities are amazing, with a spotless stainless steel kitchen and fantastic spacious lounge with a cosy wood burning stove.
Shared kitchen at Hopewell
On our last day at Hopewell we take a walk through the bush along the coast - it feels wild and untamed like no one else has walked it in ages, it's kind of what we are getting used to, in that NZ feels at times like you are the only people around - but it never feels isolated and I think it's because the landscape is so alive you just feel it is 'with you'.
Our stay was great, and with beds from $20 a night you should book well in advance.
http://hopewell.co.nz/
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Hiya Pete, Jo and April - great to hear from you! - drop us an email by contact us link at bottom of this page - we'll see u soon - hugs to all Rach n the boys xxx"
