Mountains, waterfalls, lakes and the Wanaka for 2 nights

Stunning trip on to Wanaka,along the Hasst valley road with view stops every few minutes!

Too many pictures of rivers , sea, dolphins, waterfalls and lakes. Arrived late afternoon at our next BBH , Wanaka backpackers. No ensuite but flushing loos and our own room with a view over lake from the garden. Temperature today peaked at 30 ,somewhat warmer than the 14C we left in the glaciers this morning! Forecast is continuing hot here but we wanted to do a hard walk up to 1580 meters on Roys

Peak but may have to do something less?

Around Fox Glacier area

Just 25 kms along and a must do walk around Lake Mattherson where the odd occasion you can get the classic photo of Mt Cook reflexion. Not today but not bad. Weather perfect but slight rippling and two anoying ducks swimming !
Then back into town , on and up both paths to be near Fox Glacier. The nearest we could get you could see lumps breaking off in the summer melt, crashing below with frighning noises!
Sun still hot so mundane task of washing and a little translation for a brave group of french tandem cyclists with a blind guy at the rear of each bike.

The hills round here made even Heti struggle!

Franz Jose Glacier walks and a kiwi at last..............albeit in a wildlife centre!

The day looked good after a good sleep following a good beer last night,probably!
The only way to get right up close now is by helicopter and as we had done a "proper" ice walk we did the self walk to the base for jaw dropping views. Then we did all the other local walks spurring from the Base.  Some slightly scary over swing bridges (rope) and stepping over and into running water. Great day in the sun again before late afternoon going to the kiwi centre where they hatch eggs and raise the chicks before release. If you look up anything about kiwis they are strange fellows , sort of birds but with bits of mammals built in.
Another day here and 2 nights so hope to go to Fox Glacier area tomorrow.

On to Franz Josef via the West Coast Highway

Longish drive but mostly by the ocean with the usual views! Stopped at Hokatiki and checked out the driftwood exhibition on the beach......weird!
Arived to check into our first Y H A. It's "plush" with ensuit and all mod cons. With dozens of beds, Lesley cooking our meal along with the rest of the world was a site worth watching. It worked though, as I bought in the wine and did the goferring to keep stress  levels low......just the one sh**t as the tap pressure soaked the cooking area and clothes!
Looking forward to mountain things for a few days and it's nice to get our warm clothes out as we have carried them with us.

 Pancake rocks...........what a place , Kevin!

2 days at the Old Slaughterhouse.........then it was one😂

First cock-up but not until we drove over to the other coast near West port.
Rain greeted us with a 10 minute uphill bush walk to our next backpacker.  Trepidation was soon replaced as the lodge was stunning. The views the wooden construction,  yes it was economic with a water wheel power supply but flushing loos, clean and nice bedroom. Quad bike goes down to take up your stuff ! Pleasant company,  dinner and more views before bed. Up at 8, breakfast, sunshine and views!
Met Dave the owner then realised a cock up in bbh booking . No room so we moved further up the road and now in nice digs called the Last Resort
Walked through the bush today on the Heaphy Track as far as Scott Bay. Nice temperature and less humid. Photos and more photos, will end our 3rd day without alcohol tonight?
Drive to Franz Joseph tomorrow,  it's now even further as we are in Karamea on the North tip of the South island.

 The Old Slaughterhouse

Shambhala and Fairwell Spit

Bit late as the wi-fi was as bad  as the accommodation! Since when did eco mean uncleaned and uncared for? Beautiful location but glad to leave! We drove down to Colinwood and took the red Bedford bus tour of Fairwell Spit. What a great day out, driving on the beach for 35kms , stopping to photo the seals and gannets. Long day back at 8.30 for another short night at Shambhala!

 It's a seal in the rock pool,

Able Tasman walk and arrive at Shambhala near Takata

Drive from Nelson and despite the forecast the weather looks good and stays in upper 20s for the rest of the day.
Leave the car at the start near the Park cafe, our stop on the way back for a berry smoothy
4 hour of walking via Coquille bay to Apple Tree Bay for a paddle and lunch. The path was beautiful through bush beside the sea. Views all the way!
Drive on to Shambhala our alternative backpackers place for the next 2 days. Over the top of Takata hill and down a few kms before a rough track takes us by the beach in this slightly odd community.  We are in a lodge up the path. Eco toilets and showers , kitchen and community lounge .
Hope the bed is OK.
We walked down the private path to the beach where we hope to have a dip in the morning!

Pictures of Shambala tomorrow as wi if is only for 2 hours tonight 

Cable bay "hill" walk

Just half an hour and we had zig zagged the track down to cable bay. As this was our last day in Nelson a good walk was on the programme!
The guide said hilly and steep to start but I forgot to mention to lesley.  The bay was quite empty as the sticks came out of heti our car come storage.
Up, literally into the clouds, passing sheep, cattle and a mountain goat!
Following white posts and avoiding the sheer drops we decided  to call it quits at the peek. Sitting up this high had a wobbly feeling either from vertigo or a failing heart.
After a good recoup the slow downward trek and lunch in a convenient cafe next to the start. Mince on toast was the order of the day, unusual but nice!
Walk along the causeway to Pepin Island which is privately owned. Kayaking was the reason the small crowd had gathered, on the sea and large lagoon.
Back and pack.......leaving for the Shambala back packers north of Takata in the morning.
Weather still great and OK for just another day before being blessed with much needed  wet stuff!

Looking like an Inca but covered  from the sun!

Nelson and the warmest day here!

Up early for a run for Lesley and a walk for me,while the temp are still OK. Looks like an event taking place as the diesel engine  on the old railway has several guys scrambling over it, bringing their  gear in a Morris 1000 pickup!
It's Saturday market and we wander around looking at the locals with their stuff , kids playing violin and street musicians doing their best. No tac just good produce and arty bits. Lesley  continued to shop and I wandered along the river path and out to the marina.
Afternoon, shopping in Richmond, a proper mall where Lesley  actually bought something!
Back to our beach at 5pm where it was still 27C for a decent swim in what has become Lesley''s fave beach (small waves, shallow, sand and lifeguards, although they packed up when we went in)
Finish up food in fridge night with out again for a pint in one of the many Nelson bars.

Kaiteriteri beaches and chill out in Marahau

Wow! 27 C and an hour drive to a beach we remembered from a previous trip!
Like a lot of things perhaps best not to go back. People had found this place in largish numbers. The bay in the morning was just a boat launch park and water sports!
The popularity meant a big cafe and play ground plus a large campsite opposite the beach that was stacked to bursting. A short stroll over the brow gave us back our sanity with a peaceful golden bay uncommercial and ready for a dip and then another.
Lunch back in the new cafe that was empty and really quite pleasant. Then the tide had gone out so we braved Kaiteriteri beach and all was good. Boats had gone and sea was tempting us back.
Drive out on the same winding  road to the tranquillity of Marabou where sea meets old tractors by the dozens! Got the full history of one particular beauty that had been preserved and modified to go into the water deeper to collect boats or kayak trailers.
Coffee in the chill out cafe and a scone thing. This is the start or end of the Able Tasman walkway and we promised a revisit?

Nelson

After Skype with the Pavelys a gentle "over the hill" walk to the town's beach. Sun was up and temperature meant a swim as soon as we arrived. A calm beach with paddle boarding rentals and loads thinking it was a doddle. Wind picked up as the tide went out a few hundred yards. More kite surfers than swimmers so time for our first real pint in a pint glass.
An afternoon stroll back via a path short cut that had the steepest incline without having to go up backwards as our feet wouldn't bend anymore but cars went up to the

houses some how!
Back to our studio for decanting the surplus sand that had gathered everywhere and a nice  shower....to remove the rest of it from more difficult  places!

Nelson via the Queen Charlotte scenic drive

Before leaving Picton we took an uphill walk through the bush to a lookout over the sound. 45mins to the top and a view over the harbour and fiords.

As can be seen from the resting seat a large ocean cruiser was slowly making its way through the narrow but hopefully deep chanel.  It docked in Shakespeare bay where the hordes must have been money trees for the small town of Picton.
On with the drive to Nelson around the most stunning scenery, stopping frequently for views and paddling in the many inlets.

Coffee and snack before a driver change and onwards over the "alps" and down a twisting road to Nelson city.
It's 5 nights in the Quest motel city centre  (NZ use the term city when they mean a town really) nice studio on the top floor, obscured view of sea and distant views of the hills. Complete unpacking out of suitcase and a small chill-out this evening.  Temperature has been great at mid 20s and predicted until the weekend when ......?

Picton, 1st stop on the South Island

Despite the foreboding the 3.5hr crossing was smooth. Rain greeted us as we sailed up the fiord to Picton which was a shame. Drove off for a sandwich made in the boot of the car and eaten at the next bay before checking in to our first bed and breakfast!
Time to stretch legs and take a waymarked and somewhat up and down coastal bush walk to the Charlotte Sound viewpoint,  around 8 miles round tramp. Lots of views and photos. Overcast and sun mixed but no rain even though we had our brollies.
Back for showers and straight out for meals as NZ is an early closing and to bed culture.