Unusually for us, this trip was
in our adopted home of new Zealand rather than venturing overseas. It was (as
with a lot of them) about a year in the planning.
We
have very good friends in Golden Bay, South Island and we have been down to see
them several times over the past ten years but, until this year, only as a long
weekend away. This trip was a 10 day trip to have a bit of a tour of the upper
South Island as well.
We
flew Auckland to Nelson - considerably cheaper than Hamilton to Nelson and no
need to change planes at Wellington (really don't know why we didn't do that on
previous trip/trips but maybe it's because we are now 20 minutes closer to
Auckland and a corresponding time further from Hamilton airport after moving
house a few years ago).
An
Avis rental car from Nelson - decided to "splash out" and have a
new(ish) car rather than the "rent-a-dent" types we have had on
previous trips - for the very interesting drive from Nelson along the Tasman
Bay coast and then over the Takaka Hill road to Golden Bay. This road was
washed out on the Eastern side by Cyclone Gita in February 2018 cutting
off Golden Bay, with the only access via boat or plane for some time. Check
out:
There
is still a 3Km or so stretch which is single track controlled by traffic lights
with up to a 15 minute wait if your timing is wrong.
Golden
Bay is an absolute gem of a place to visit and (in our humble opinion, as they
say) should be on any overseas visitor's itinerary - time permitting. We stayed
(for the fifth time) at Adrift on Golden Bay, a boutique motel in a stunning
location - see photo below.
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View from the studio deck; Adrift on
Golden Bay, Parapara, NZ
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The weather was absolutely
stunning, too, but that has its disadvantages as everywhere was very dry with
extreme fire risk (see next post).
So,
we relaxed, had some good food at our friends' house, and also with them at a
restaurant in Takaka, walked through the bush to Milnthorpe beach, strolled
along the main street of Takaka, walked around Te Waikaropupu
("Pupu") Springs, swam in the sea at Parapara, and generally relaxed
and chilled out.
I
have to put in a "plug" for the Mussel Inn, about 3km up the road
from Adrift. This a brewpub, whose ales are very good and have a small but
excellent menu, the portions huge, and excellent value. We make a point of
going there at least once on our Golden Bay visits.
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No excuses for missing it as there is a
sign on the road
as you approach on the left hand side on the way from Takaka to Collingwood |
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My Good Lady, Carol, checks out the
architecture on Milnthorpe Beach
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The amazingly clear water at Pupu Springs
That's it for now. I shall publish this
and produce part two of the tale of this trip when I feel the inspiration (or,
whatever!).
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Looks beautiful, definitely one of the many places for us to visit when we visit you both and NZ.
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