Christmas in Golden Bay

Our Christmas holidays involved exploring the north of the South Island of NZ.  6 nights camping, and 1 night - Christmas night - in "the Station House" at Collingwood.  We based ourselves in Collingwood for 3 nights which worked out to be a great place to explore from.  We spent Christmas Day avoiding the heat of the day by sleeping after the drive from Motueka, and I believe Nat had 5 showers.  We then walked to Wharariki Beach, well known for the spectacular Archway Islands just offshore.  Christmas dinner comprised a packet of Continental 12 minute packet pasta heated in a microwave, followed by a little "plum pudding" dessert.  

We did a day trip exploring the South-East through Takaka and into the Abel Tasman National Park, to Totaranui Beach with its rich caramel coloured sand and clear inviting water... until the giant stingray swam past, and the giant blue crab crawled over / nipped my foot!  We enjoyed walking through the incredible limestone formation of Labrynth Rocks, and The Grove Scenic Reserve.   We spent a day driving along the Whanganui Inlet down past Paturau River, which was very scenic with an incredible hillocky landscape with rocky outcrops.  We went back to Wharariki Beach a 2nd time and this time explored the rocks and arches and tunnels down the far end of the beach.  I was walking along and thought "Pong! Smells like seals!".  Turns out I smelt him before I saw him! Around the corner was a seal snoozing.  We also checked out Te Waikoropupū Springs - the cleanest spring water in the world!  The only clearer water being below the Ross iceshelf in Antartica.  On our way back over Takaka Hill we went through one of the Ngarua Caves.  

When we got up to Marlborough Sounds the first campsite had no vacancies, and at Momorangi Bay we got one of the last 2 sites available.  Yet we still had to move to a different site on the 2nd day which had us picking up our tent and moving it - completely set up and with bedding inside - in torrential rain.  We went for the very windy drive along Keneperu Road all the way out to Waitaria Bay.  Fortunately the rain cleared up about halfway through our drive.  And a short walk from the campsite, in the forest, was an incredible number of glow worms.  It was magical with glow worms all throughout the forest, and along the embankment of the path.

We stopped to admire the seals in Kaikoura, and to have some fresh scallops at one of the roadside barbeque places on Fyffe Quey Rd.  We drove home New Years' Eve deciding that even if a campsite was available, we'd never get any sleep.  We arrived home to find our freezer partially open and frozen over!

Wharariki Beach on Christmas Day

Nat inside one of the tunnels at Wharariki Beach

Wharariki Beach

In Scenic Grove Reserve

 

Inside Labyrinth Rocks

Labyrinth Rocks

Inside Labyrinth Rocks

Nat with his "I dont want to stand in here, there's so many spider webs" face

More photos from this day can be found on flickr here.

Snow, ice, & frost ... perfect for warming the soul!

Sunday 1st July 2012, we headed up to the Alps for a day drive and a short walk, in need of a little mood lifter.  I certainly got all that I needed: snow, ice, and frost... and a border collie to boot! (Although I didnt get to keep the border collie!).

The view from Porters Pass (taken from the moving car!)

Playing on the frozen lake Lyndon. Imagine the border collie off to the left running and skidding on the ice as he fetches his stick!

Hoar frost covered tree beside the Waimakariri River, looking up river towards Arthur's Pass

More hoar frost covered trees, looking downstream over the Waimakariri River

The incredible hoar frosted tree beside the Waimak (looking upstream)

Hoar frost on the snow. I could spend hours looking at it - it's magical! Taken on a 17-55mm lens (not macro!)

Small amount of hoar frost on the delicate grass.

More photos from this day can be found on flickr here.

Photos are available for sale by emailing photography@allyeska.com