Golden Bay

Early Saturday morning we set off over the Takaka hill to Che’s hometown, Takaka, in Golden Bay. It was a beautiful drive over the ‘hill’ even with the rain clouds that started to roll in. Once we arrived in Takaka we stopped in at Che’s mum, Theo’s, place before driving to Liger Bay where their family bach is and where we would be spending the night. From there Theo, Che’ and I went to Takaka and explored some of the art, craft and pottery stops that Golden Bay is known for. We then drove along the coast to the beginning of Farwell Spit. We got there just in time to see the spit before it started to pour rain. Over a tea at the cafe in the info center there Theo and Che’ filled me in on the interesting local history of the spit and Golden Bay. We stopped at a sweet pottery place and then Mussel Inn for lunch on the way back to Ligar Bay. That evening we had a amazing home cooked lamb roast and spent the evening visiting with some more of Che’s family who had stopped by.

Golden Bay 

the drive to Farwell Spit

looking over the Bay to Theo’s home on the otherside 

along the coast right before Liger Bay

exams and off to Nelson

After getting back from our road trip I spent the next two days studying for two of my three exams. I wrote my Design Theory exam on Thursday and then my Introduction to Earth Science one on Friday.  Following my exam on Friday morning I packed up and headed to the airport to catch my flight up to Nelson!

While I had been in Nelson when I was traveling with Emily and Alison back in February I had met up with my dad’s good friend Russ and his wife Genevieve and been introduced to Genevieve's family. Genevieve’s sister Che’ and I had kept in touch and Che’ and Chris invited me to come visit them in Nelson and go to Golden Bay with them. So on friday evening I set off for Nelson. I arrived at the airport less than a half hour before my flight checked myself in and walked out side onto a tiny plane. Arriving in Nelson I picked my bag off the curb or the ‘baggage claim’ and met up with Chris and Che’. That evening we went for fish and chips and then back to their lovely home just outside of Richmond. What a good start to my last adventure in New Zealand .. for now anyway ..

on the road again

After handing in all of my final assignments by Friday June 3rd, Michaela and I went to pick up our rental car and hit the road again on Saturday morning.  The two of us decided to travel through Arthur’s Pass to the west coast and up the west coast into Karamea and Kahurangi National Park and then back through Lewis Pass to Lincoln on Monday evening.

day one - Castle Hill, Arthur’s Pass, Greymouth & Hokitika

On Saturday we drove through the pass making lots of stops along the way once we reached the coast we went 30 km down the coast to Hokitika to enjoy the the famous local pizza place Fat Pipi Pizzas. After eating our pizza in the car in the pouring rain at the beach we drove back up the coast and spent the night in Greymouth. 

Kara Tawhiti - Castle Hill

day two - Cape Foulwind & the drive up the west coast to Karamea

West Coast .. forecast wet and raining as always

Cape Foulwind

 Lake Hanlon

Sunset in Karamea

day three - Kahurangi National Park, more of the west coast & the drive back..

good morning

I'll wake up to this view any day..

Oparara Arch Track

like many of my experiences and the sights I have seen and experienced
here in New Zealand I couldn't capture the Oparara Arch on camera
pictures just don't do it justice - above is the size of the Oparara Arch

a weekend away - yes please

On the weekend before the final week of classes, myself and 8 other international students decided to rent a van and head down to Dunedin for the weekend to see a rugby game, the Highlanders (Dunedin) vs the Lions (South Africa) . We left early Saturday morning on May 28th and drove down along the eastern coast of New Zealand stopping at the Moeraki Boulders on the way. The game was Saturday night and we spent Sunday morning exploring the city a bit before heading back up the coast to Lincoln.