Mapua and nearby Ruby Bay are favourite spots for us, and so after our stay at Elaine Bay in the Marlborough Sounds, we head drove to the Nelson area for a few days. I am sure Nelson city is a nice place, but getting through it and out the other side is not straightforward, and we were glad to eventually get past the traffic and out the other side. Driving along the … [Read more...]
Elaine Bay in the Marlborough Sounds
Perhaps as the crow flys it is not a long way, but once we turned off after Pelorus Bridge (great coffee, food and walks there) in the Rai Valley the road narrowed and snaked out along the ridge lines, we slowed down and were very grateful that we were not towing our new caravan – this would definitely be a challenging first tow, not a straight line in sight. The road … [Read more...]
Murchison for the October long weekend
Murchison is usually seen as a stopping point on the way to somewhere else – to Nelson or the West Coast. Our new life is about exploring the hidden magic of New Zealand in our new caravan. We have not picked it up yet, so a cabin it is this weekend as we explore Murchison. A River Runs Through it The Buller River thunders along this valley, nearby … [Read more...]
Twizel and Mt Cook – see your own country first
Julie Patterson of Venus Adventures is usually based in Egypt and from there organises six adventures a year for women. A kiwi, she is locked down in New Zealand and has decided to do some trips for women in New Zealand. See them all here See all the trips for women in New Zealand here on Womentravel.info Last month we joined the one based in a lodge at Twizel – once … [Read more...]
Kimi Ora – an Eco Resort
Just before the Abel Tasman National Park at the top of the South Island of New Zealand is a popular beach - Kaiteretere. And nestled into the bush above the beach is a hidden Gem - The Kimi Ora Eco Resort. We have the rare treat of staying in the Yurt at this Resort - something you can not book into, but is occasionally available - and we are here for 4 magical days. … [Read more...]
Exploring the Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island of New Zealand is a treasure most only see when they sail into Picton on the InterIslander Ferry from Wellington. This is a beautiful trip, but to get the full magic of the Sounds, you need to explore the other less frequented sounds such as Queen Charlotte – via the Famous Walkway, or via a boat trip. We have … [Read more...]
Ngakuta Bay – Bach by the Sea
Drive from Picton towards Nelson on the Scenic Route to Havelock. This is a winding coastal road, with great views out to the sounds and lots of lookout spots to take it in. Ngakuta Bay is on this road. On this road keep an eye out for small bays you can only walk to, The Grove - a community that must have the most fun letter boxes, Department of Conservation … [Read more...]
Night Skies and Milky Way in New Zealand
I have been in Beijing where in the middle of the day you can look at the sun without shading your eyes. The chance of seeing stars is so remote there, and in some other parts of the world that going somewhere to see the Night Sky is high on the bucket list of many folk. If this is you, then the place to come is New Zealand. My friend Ewa Jermakowicz was recently in New … [Read more...]
Christchurch to Picton – try the Inland Route
For a year, the only way to go north from Christchurch was to take this Inland Route as the road through Kaikoura was badly damaged by an earthquake. Although it is mostly open now, it can still be slow going as road works and reconstruction continue. However people discovered the magic of the Inland Route to Picton - discover Lake Sumner, the St James walkway, mist dripping … [Read more...]
Queenstown Winter Pride
Jenny Rankine writes in Lesbian News Aotearoa: New Zealand has gained another Pride festival with the renaming and expansion of the former Gay Ski Week QT, which this year will include Queenstown’s first Pride in the Park. The 2018 Gay Ski Week GT Winter Pride festival from September 1 to 8 will have three strands – the on-mountain events for skiers, the parties and … [Read more...]