Monday 12 January

We left Mapua Wharf, but only after having a cup of coffee and visiting some of the arts and crafts studios including a hat shop

and drove out onto Rabbit Island. This is a large area which is accessed by only one road and that is closed at night and the island left deserted.

We walked along the amazing beach, flat sand as far as the eye could see in both directions.

after a long walk paddling in the sea and enjoying the warm sun and trying to photograph some birds

we set off for Nelson. A lovely town but as always in NZ smaller than we anticipated but Mark treated Helen to lunch at a boutique ‘caravan'

and then a visit to the cathedral

The next task was to find a freedom site, a lot of driving along steep and twisty roads always brought us to "No Camping" signs  but in the end we found a farm track——not very successful but it did the job.

and there was yet another lovely dairy herd just across the road to keep us company