On to the North Island ⛴️

We headed down from Perry Saddle Hut on the Heaphy Track in good time so by 2:30pm we were sat in the glorious sunshine next to the water at Collingwood Holiday Park. When I say sat in the sun, I had the bed set up in the van with the doors open enjoying a well deserved lie down. The next morning the sun continued and we caught a glorious sunrise over the sea. 

We were not far from Farewell Spit, the most northern point of the South Island, if you look at on Google maps it looks like a kiwi beak. You can only walk a bit of it but it's a loop going along one side, up over the dunes, and then back along the other. We set of in the sunshine and then headed up onto the dunes, all very pleasant. 

All along the walk we saw loads of whale bones, apparently the deep ocean on one side and shallow estuary often confuses whales who then get stranded leading to bones scattered all over. As we reached the other side it was obvious we'd been extremely sheltered so far, it was blowing a gale! It probably took us double the time to get back as we walked against the wind and I also briefly got stuck in some wet sand and started screaming in a completely undramatic way. It was a good walk but I was glad to make it back to Hades. 

Our next stop was the rocks at Whahariki beach, you may recognise them if you're a regular user of Windows 10. We had time for a cuppa at the campsite first in order to make it down there for sunset. It was a lovely evening and we'd managed to frame the day between a beautiful sunrise and sunset. Matt was in photography mode, so there's a photo below of him in action. 

We'd seen rain in the forecast so the next morning enjoyed the sunshine after breakfast and before our long drive to Momorangi near Picton. By the time we'd made it to Nelson, for a spot of lunch, the rain had started and when made it to camp it was really coming down. But, we don't really mind rain on days where we're mostly driving and we're finishing somewhere with a camp kitchen. 

The rain just didn't stop though, it rained all night and all the next day, and not just drizzle. We had planned to try and get out on the water at Queen Charlotte sound but it was just a write-off really. We actually had a first day where we didn't set an alarm which was nice, then got a big wash done and got some plans in place for the North Island so it was productive. We also had to get an early night as the alarm was set for 04:45am for us to get up and out the the ferry the next day. I dont have any photos from this day but Matt got one of the Spoonbill we saw in the bay, so another bird ticked off the list. 

As we drove in the dark to the ferry the next morning, still in the pouring rain, there was evidence that the heavy rainfall was starting to have an effect as we passed some small landslides, one covering half the road. As we're now safely on the North island we're hearing reports of some extreme flooding in the areas we've not long been, so unknowingly we got out just at the right time. 

We crossed to the North Island with no problem at all, I actually quite like a ferry, especially one you drive on to. We arrived about 11am and got parked up in Wellington, the New Zealand capital. It's always strange being in a city again, it suddenly feels like you look an absolute mess and that everyone can tell that you've been living in a car for weeks. Where as out in the mountains and forests, and at the secluded beaches, it's totally okay to look like been living in a car for a few weeks! So we headed straight to the Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa to look civilised and to not be out in the never ending rain. We passed some cool shark paintings on the way. 

We spent most of the day at the museum, Matt's the kind who likes to stop and read everything, whereas I've realised I'm still a child who heads straight for the things you can touch or games you can play. There was plenty for us both and a really good exhibition called Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War, telling the story of the New Zealanders part in WW1. It contains huge models of real people who were there, while voices tell the stories around you, its very moving. 

We're staying just out the city at a cheap spot and will head back into the centre tomorrow before seeing what else the North Island has to offer. Hopefully the rain will stop soon🤞

Lots of love, 

Lisa and Matt 💕