Arriving in New Zealand early Nov, we spent the first two weeks catching up with family, celebrating Clare's Dad's 85th birthday and getting our 4X4 ready for a summer of fun. We planned to intersperse some house sitting with plenty of wild camping, fishing and kayaking. New Zealand is such a fabulous place for all of these things.
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| Back seats out, bed in |
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| Most comfortable mobile bed we have ever had |
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| Ready to roll .... |
A family weekend was spent at Waikanae Beach celebrating Kevin's birthday. People came from far and wide and it was a great opportunity for us to see everyone, after so long, all in one place! The weather was perfect. Long may it last!
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Some of the 'big' kids made a beach sculpture in honour of our
father, grandfather and great grandfather
... we didn't have time to add the '85' |
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The fandamily who were able to make it. There were some
key members missing, mostly in other countries |
Our first camping trip was to the west coast of the South Island. First stop, our favourite kahawai fishing spot in Charleston at the mouth of the Nile river. We have never failed to catch dinner here and there is a comfortable roadside camping spot. We are travelling with a fish smoker so a few kahawai every now and then is most welcome.
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| Hard at work ;-) |
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| Good enough to gobble |
We made our way north intending to spend a few days around Karamea. A more beautifully wild part of NZ you will not find, but at this time of year you must be prepared to be carried off by the sand-flies. They really are unpleasant, attacking every uncovered piece of skin at every opportunity. We caught a few good snapper off the beach making it worth the agro. Although we have sat on beaches all over the world, a more enchanting beach we have yet to encounter. We sat and watched schools of bait fish flurry by, a seal frolicking in the shallows hoping for an easy meal and a pod of porpoise hunting and playing out in front of us. The wild wild west for sure!
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No, it wasn't cold, it's just that insect repellant
wasn't quite up to spec for the pests here |
After staying the night at the start of the Heaphy track we decided to look for some reprieve from the midges and headed inland to the
Oparara Basin. The road in wasn't the easiest but we have just the vehicle for that! Once there, we found ourselves all alone for the evening, enjoying a swim in the river, a cold beer and a peaceful nights sleep.
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| Limestone caves |
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| The mighty Buller |
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| Just a couple of bush bunnies |
We love this part of the world. Still relatively unspoiled by farming and forestry, hosting some of the best native bush in the land.
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