A couple of days rest was in order so we stayed in the Abel Tasman area. Having spent a night at a freedom site beside the river we drove out to Collingwood on the North west tip of the South Island. To get there one drives up and down over a hill/mountain which at the highest point was 2,662 ft (according to the GPS). This is the only road in and out of the area known as the Golden Valley which is a beautiful fertile area with literally hundreds of dairy cows.

all the milk lorries and livestock lorries go in and out of the valley using this tortuous road.

This is the hippy area of New Zealand leading a remote lifestyle. Coffee was enjoyed in Collingwood which used to have a large wharf this being used to get everything in and out of the Golden Valley before the road was built. The village (population 270) was named after Nelson’s second in command

and then to the holiday camp for two consecutive nights. It was on it’s own private beach

with evening fires

and good safe swimming

Takaka held a market on Saturday mornings. This was essentially a hippy market where they all sold goods to one another plus a few tourists! Plenty of ethnic clothing, dyed tee shirts, herbal remedies and wood carvings including some cheese made by a chap who had emigrated from Esher in the early 1970’s. A self confessed punk who married a native Collingwood hippy girl!

On the way back from the market we called in at Te Waikoropupu Springs. Water erupts at about 10 cu metres per second and creates large pools of exceedingly clear water which flow into the Waitapu river about 3km above our freedom site on Thursday night.

The water was amazingly clear

and in times of high pressure salt water comes back into the lower spring

The Mussel Inn is well known for it’s local beer, food and music nights. 

We hit a night of Balkan music! The Balkanists, as they called themselves, consisted of three trombones, three trumpets, two accordions, two guitars, drummer, key board, tuba, two lady and two male singers, a percussionist and a few more to make 22 in total all dressed in Spanish rather than Balkan clothes—maybe they look the same? It looked as though all the local hippies had come for the entertainment and dressed in all sorts including one girl who was dressed in a 1940’s garb from hat to shoes—but no seams in her stockings!

Helen felt very at home in the 1970’s hippy movement but unfortunately was not wearing her hippy dress and beads—they were still in the Mighty!