Odds and Ends

Finally checked into a place that actually has wireless internet connectivity so thought I'd update the blog. Strange that a country as modern in other respects as New Zealand isn't better wired. We've stayed at a couple of places where the only connectivity was dialup, and one of our hosts didn't know what wireless was...oh well.




This is a good view from the decking of our B&B at Collingwood in Golden Bay. We had originally visited this place in 2005 and liked it so much that we returned. Our hosts were a couple who originally emigrated to NZ from Holland in 1983 - just packed up, left everything behind and relocated to a place they had never been to. Thing is - they've never regretted their decision for a moment, even in the difficult first years when they both had to scramble to get by. Extremely nice & personable people - Maggie and Adrian Veenvliet. We very much enjoyed our time with them - they were more like old friends than B&B hosts. We joined them for Christmas dinner in their home which turned out to be one of our most memorable experiences in this beautiful and most hospitable country.




Our last day in Golden Bay was strictly a "chill out" day. Returned to the Whaririki Beach area, which we had already been to a couple of times before, and just meandered along the grassy hills, sheep paddocks and beaches. Stopped on a grassy hillside just to flake out and read our books, then continued to this stretch of beach, kicked off our hiking boots and explored the bay. As usual there was no one there - had the place all to ourselves except for a basking fur seal in one of the caves.Relaxing & reading a book on a deserted beach. Trust me - being retired is a good thing.


After leaving Golden Bay we drove to Marahau, which is located at the southern entrance to Abel Tasman Park - surely one of the prettiest National Parks in New Zealand. Lots of great hikes along a stretch of coastline dotted with one gorgeous beach after another. This isn't one of the prettier beaches but the angle of the photo will give an idea of the clarity of the water and the golden color of the sand.
Our first day we caught a water taxi to one of the landing areas in the park and then walked back to Marahau - still a 10 mile hike but at least it was only one-way. If the weather cooperates tomorrow we plan to take the water taxi to one of the more remote beaches further north, then walk back south for 8-10 miles before catching another one for the return trip to Marahau. The Kiwis really have this down to a science.

Our walks in the Whaririki beach area took us thru an area of working sheep paddocks. Hiking thru them is no big deal here in NZ. The farmers routinely allow casual hikers to pass thru their property - you just have to be sure to close and lock the gates behind you as you go. These two were eyeballing us as we made our way along part of the grassy track. Rita's comment was "they're cute, but not as cute as our Grand Daughter Makenna looked in her sheep costume at her school Christmas program."