Author Archives: Kiwihobos

We had a pleasant stay at Mārahau, the rain came in the night. This continued for the day. Off to the Motueka Markets where the majority of people were packing up and heading home. We got to meet Harmony, Jenna’s friend, who we will stay with for a few days. Harmony normally sings at the markets and used to have a horse trekking business in Mārahau. Next to the supermarket for supplies before driving 30min into the hills behind Motueka.

Up in Graham Valley Harmony has an off grid place with a few little buildings and buses for extra people. He often has woofers help out on the property. There are 5 horses, 3 dogs and countless chickens. One of the chickens even has baby chick’s. It is horribly wet and very drab in the wet. We chat and drink hot drinks for the afternoon. There is more heavy rain coming so we take a break in the rain to get our gear inside the little cabin. There is a small river near by to have a swim. It is incredibly cold and I don’t last long at all. Rowan, of course gets right in! We have an early night.

Harmony needs help with a few things around the property, so I get the task of painting the boat, which is used as a dog kennel. Jenna is working the horses. Rowan is sorting out a tin roof. The place is a lot better without all the rain. It is quite basic, a bit too basic. Rowan and I would like to do a similar thing one day just with more comfort. We go to the river to wash up before dinner. It is incredibly cold. My feet feel like they are going to fall off. After dinner, Rowan helps with lining a roof with tongue and groove. He says he needs another swim and feels all gross. Tomorrow we head off to Nelson.

I woke early to watch the sunrise. It was quite and peaceful for a while. It didn’t last long, the camp is pretty busy but not full. It can accommodate up to 850 sites!

We headed off to Takaka for some kai. On our way out we saw a farmer and his amazing view! Rowan stopped the car to take a photo and he realised what we were doing and posed lol.

We end up at the same cafe for lunch. It is a Saturday so the place is packed. We order only from the cabinet this time to save waiting for the kitchen. We planned to get a frozen berry yoghurt thing on the way out but they are short staffed, so it won’t serve till 2pm. Oh well! The local market is on so we head over for a look. The area is definitely getting more and more expensive. The local Fresh Choice is small yet has $115 bottles of Bolinger in the fridge.

Back over the Takaka Hill, we head to get petrol and frozen yoghurt before heading to Mārahau. This time we will stay somewhere that is not the barn smelly place. We got to Macdonald and realised tonight they are hosting Salmonella Dub. We decide not to camp there in the noise and head to the final option close to the beach. The place is dated but well maintained. We get one of the last sites. We order Fat Tui again but ask for a specific time of 6pm. We are all set up at camp then we head to the beach to read our books. I don’t end up reading. Instead, I talk to Eddy in Indonesia and he shows me the progress of the cafe.

Off for dinner we arrive and they say Hello Kate, the guy remembers my name haha. Our food is waiting for us. Yum, it is much better than last time. You can tell the rush is not here this time. After dinner we head back for showers and listen to Salmonella Dub from our camp. It is good, I can only just hear it so it is easy to sleep. I have seen them live before and felt no need to see them again. It was sold out anyway!

We packed up and headed to the beach we left about 9am. The beach was stunning, I can see why it was a Microsoft Windows screen! We explored along the beach taking heaps of photos. We decided to go right to the end and walk back via the lake. Overall about 7km.

We got back to the car about 11.30am. We headed off for some food and went to the Old school Cafe in Pākawau. The food was excellent. From there we decided to head to Totaranui DOC campsite in the Abel Tasman National Park. A chill afternoon reading our books and swimming.

I woke early to see a nice sunrise.

When packing up the tent I noticed 3 distinct holes in one of the sides. Miffed at how they came to be we jumped into action to repair it. We then realised the chickens must have attacked the tent either with bugs or just wanting to get in.

Today we headed towards Farewell Spit. The drive was really nice over Tākaka Hill. First time we have been able to go over with no traffic lights. When we got over to Tākaka we stopped and walked around the shops then got some lunch (for Rowan and I breakfast). We continued on until we reached Pūponga, the campsite there is really small so we thought we would book in first before heading g back to the Spit. Wharariki Beach is somewhere we want to go but the carpark is absolutely packed. Since it is right next to the campsite we decided we would go in the morning. Once the tent was all done, we headed out and went to Cape Farewell. A small walk out to see the arch but we ended up walking a lot further over the hills to get a view of the Spit.

From there we headed to the Farewell Spit and decided we could come back tomorrow. So we headed back to camp and made dinner so we could have an early night.

We all hopped in the river for a swim! Much cheaper then paying for showers. Rowan needed to send a picture to his friend so you guys may as well see his full moon too!

From Murchison we headed to Nelson. There was a lot of road works so it took longer than normal. We stopped at Wakefield for a pie (the best in my opinion). From there we had some errands to run in Nelson. Pharmacy, Vodafone etc. When walking through a shop Jenna had some friends see her unexpectedly. They had met in Hokitika. We invited them along to join us in the Aniseed Valley for a rock hunt in the afternoon. Once done hunting it was still fairly early so we headed to Marahau where Jenna wanted to stay. There is a burger joint there called Fat Tui and it is supposed to be really good. We order our burgers and they say they won’t be ready till 8pm so we find our camp and set up the tent. The inside will need to wait. From camp we walk down to the burger joint and wait. The wait ends up being 40min, which is annoying because we could have set up camp properly. The burgers finally are ready, I found them to be a bit bland and lacking flavour but Jenna loves them.

When we got back to the barn campground it was really smelly. They must have a full septic tank or something. Very unpleasant indeed. It was quite late by the time we set up and showered.

We pack up and have a coffee. When we arrive in Karamea we head to the cafe for brunch. Great pies and really cheap!

We head right out to the end where the Heaphy Track is. It’s a stunning spot with only a few people around.

From there we head to the Box Cave and to Apara Arch. Unfortunately the arch was closed and one of the caves was closed. But we enjoyed the Cave. It had a few gloworms too. Last time we were here with Frankie!

From Karamea we headed to Murchison, we got to Westport at 5pm for a refuel. Murchison Riverside holiday park was really nice. We washed in the river because why not!

We decided we needed a go nowhere day. It was quite a relaxing morning. I enjoyed their outdoor shower. The cafe at the campground made us a great coffee. I ended up watching Rowan fish. He would catch a Kahawai, reel it in and it would get away. This happened several times.

Lunchtime arrived, Rowan and I swam across the river and walked to the pub for lunch. Then we went back across the river. We had spent so much time after lunch at the pub that by the time we got back it was time for dinner. Another spectacular sunset.

We are out of the campground before 8am. We head to the shops and go to a cafe for breakfast. After a good coffee and food, we head north. Stopping several times at beaches along the way.

We have lunch about 30min from Westport at a tavern, it is not great. Won’t be going back there again. The best thing about it was the colouring in I did to waste time while waiting for our meals.

We arrived in Mokihinui and got a tent site at Gentle Annie’s. It is a great spit right at the mouth of the river. Rowan and I went swimming and we went across to the other side. About a year ago, we were here with Frank the duck but in an airbnb on the other side. We went to the pub for dinner, which was super cheap and delicious. Rowan reckons better than he remembers. Full bellies, we head back and watch the sunset.

A quiet and peaceful start to the day. I drank coffee and read my book. Rowan got up and wished me a happy birthday. Yes today I am 34! Just another day I said, no need to make a big deal. Jenna was to head west via Arthur’s Pass. We make a detour to PB tech to get a new phone for me. We also stop at Torpedo7 to send off my hiking boots to be fixed. Heading west we stop in Sheffield for a pie for lunch. When we reach the mountains there has been snow and it is truly beautiful.

Castle Hill has had some upgrades with a spot to picnic under now. Our main mission for today is to get Jenna up and close with a Kea. We get to the first spot we regularly see them and none are there. I think it is worth waiting for a bit and sure enough, one shows up, then another two. Jenna is really happy as now she has a lot of photos of them.

We make it to Kumara and Rowan would like to fossick the Serpentine Beach. I bail out after a bit and head back to the car. I call back my mum and the sun starts to set. By this time I am getting past being hungry. The sunset is stunning.

The sun has gone by the time they get back, we better head to the campground and set up. It is dark but we easily set up. Then we head off for food. Not much available in greymouth at this time with pizza or McDonald’s as our only options. McDonald’s wins. I haven’t had a McDonald’s birthday party since I was 8. They didn’t give me a paper hat… sad lol

An easy going day. We go to the little op shop and the four square for supplies. Jenna is having a migraine, so she sleeps it off. The day quickly disappears, Rowan and I sort through all our food. The weather outside is off and on again rain. By the afternoon Jenna is feeling a bit better, so we head to Motunau to hunt for fossils. I end up sitting in the car enjoying my book while they go out. The tide is coming in and by the time they get back, they are up to their hips wading through the estuary. Jenna found a couple of pieces and they took a whale vertebrae back to give to the owners of the campground.

I am finally over the cold. I have had a leftover cough and runny nose for a long time. We are heading west tomorrow, the weather is forecasted to be really good.