Nelson to Golden Bay with Alison, end of March 2021
How wonderful to open your eyes to such a surreal view. How I appreciate Bruce and Alison's beautiful home in its idyllic location.
After years of not travelling together, Alison and I set off for the much loved Golden Bay. My first visit, and hopefully not the last!
First stop Takaka, a small arty town with a main street of quirky shops and a multitude of very good and interestingly-named cafes, like The Dangerous Kitchen! Great humour and a fabulous introduction to this very special part of New Zealand right up in the north of the South Island.
Only minutes away, the traveller can enjoy magnificent, long, sandy beaches, endless cycle and walking tracks and lush native forest. The easy 30- minute walk to Wainui Falls is well worth it, particularly on a warm sunny day.
More unbelievably golden beaches, and strangely nobody on them, even though the water was a fabulous temperature, as was the air. I guess this is in part due to our closed borders?
Collingwood, our destination and home for 2 nights, being the gateway to Farewell Spit.
We opted not to take a tour to the end of the Spit (32 km, the longest natural spit in the world) , preferring to spend the day walking a couple of the most recommended tracks. We both agreed that although we were exhausted by the end of the day, we had surely seen and experienced much more of this spectacular area.
And paddling in the pleasant water at Parapara was so refreshing and the views stunning.
It was a great trip Alison. I am looking forward to the next already!
First stop Takaka, a small arty town with a main street of quirky shops and a multitude of very good and interestingly-named cafes, like The Dangerous Kitchen! Great humour and a fabulous introduction to this very special part of New Zealand right up in the north of the South Island.
Only minutes away, the traveller can enjoy magnificent, long, sandy beaches, endless cycle and walking tracks and lush native forest. The easy 30- minute walk to Wainui Falls is well worth it, particularly on a warm sunny day.
One of Golden Bay's most famous tourist spots is undoubtedly Pupu Springs, where you can see the springs bubbling up through crystal clear, sometimes turquoise waters. Personally, I preferred our gorgeous walk through the lush native bush to Wainui Falls.
More unbelievably golden beaches, and strangely nobody on them, even though the water was a fabulous temperature, as was the air. I guess this is in part due to our closed borders?
Collingwood, our destination and home for 2 nights, being the gateway to Farewell Spit.
We opted not to take a tour to the end of the Spit (32 km, the longest natural spit in the world) , preferring to spend the day walking a couple of the most recommended tracks. We both agreed that although we were exhausted by the end of the day, we had surely seen and experienced much more of this spectacular area.
On one side of the Spit, this was our view at low tide.
Only 30 minutes across the Spit looking out to the Tasman Sea, we enjoyed a totally different landscape on Fossil Beach.
How I loved all the little pools.
Only a very short drive away was, to my mind, the most impressive of the places we visited, Wharariki Beach, with its undulating sand dunes, long golden sandy beach, and awesome rock formations out to sea
Only 30 minutes across the Spit looking out to the Tasman Sea, we enjoyed a totally different landscape on Fossil Beach.
How I loved all the little pools.
Only a very short drive away was, to my mind, the most impressive of the places we visited, Wharariki Beach, with its undulating sand dunes, long golden sandy beach, and awesome rock formations out to sea
and vividly colourful cliffs at the back of the beach, with deep caves providing shelter from the sun for some young seals.
Two days is not really sufficient to see everything this area has to offer, but it is certainly enough to whet your appetite for a further visit.
The journey hone was equally fabulous. What unforgettable reflections!
And paddling in the pleasant water at Parapara was so refreshing and the views stunning.
It was a great trip Alison. I am looking forward to the next already!
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