Sunday, 24th February
2008
A
Driving day in the rain and mist through steep torturous roads, you know you
have heard it before, big and beautiful mountain country. We are now in Collingwood – named after
Admiral Collingwood, Nelsons second in command. The day closed with clear blue skies and
hot sun so we will see what tomorrow brings?
Monday, 26 February 2008
Monday
brought strong winds and cloud clearing as the day progressed. The very helpful Scandinavian man in the
Information Centre at Takaka gave us volumes of information about walks and
places to visit – he was in overdrive and we were in overload. We picked out a couple of places we’d
like to visit; one was best at low tide while the other was best seen at high
tide. It being half tide on the
flood we went to Westhaven or the Whanganui Inlet, the second largest estuary in
the South
Island,
which should be seen at high tide.
It was
a long drive round the inlet, some 30K, 22 of which was on a gravel road needing
a bit of attention, overlooking these mud flats and we were somewhat
uninspired. Eventually we emerged
where the Paturau River meets the sea. This was a really wild and lonely place
which we liked; the guide book says it very well ‘Tangles of drift wood, a salty
haze and the boom of surf welcome you to an energetic Tasman Sea and you can
expect a vigorous southwest wind and an empty seascape.’ That is exactly what we found, one
solitary angler, fishing in the river and not another sole around. We drove to the rivers edge, set the van
against the wind and enjoyed our lunch.
We could have camped there for free but we had already booked another
night at Collingwood. (Shame!)
The
drive back was an eye opener. While
we had been eating the water had come in and all the old mud flats were now an
enormous beautiful lake and the road snaked around it and through it, water on
both sides of the road/causeway which was only a van wide. In the end our Scandinavian friend was
right; it was well worth the trip.
When
we got back we walked out onto the famous Farewell Spit and then to Fossil
Point, it was still wild and
blowing and we came to the conclusion that we liked our lonely lunch time spot
better where the green valley met the roaring
sea.
Tuesday, 26 February
2008
The
wind has gone, the sky had cleared and it was warm and good! We drove 20Km to Te Waikoropupu Springs
where the water rises up out of the ground in huge volumes to start a river and
it is totally clear. It is so clear in the bright sun the water looked like
crystal. They had a periscope set
up and you could see 60 metres under water from one side of the pool to the
other.
We
drove another 20Km and set up camp in Pohara on a lovely sandy beach and enjoyed
the sun. An easy day, we may stay a
little while here.
Roger
& Mags; Mum & Dad
