So…we’re here and working our way south. Thus far, lots of fun!
After Picton we headed just a little way south and west to Anakiwa along the Queen Charlotte Track. We spent a nice night at the Anakiwa Lodge and went for a little hike the next day. Well, actually not so little. Ended up we walked 16 miles!! Yipes, did we ever feel that. The worst part was that the ice cream vendor was closed when we got back to the trailhead after 8 hours of hiking.
8:30 AM starting past the Outward Bound school at Anawika. Maybe that should have been a hint...
View of the hike on the way outbound in the morning...
On the way back in the afternoon. Stunning. You can see why the fern is the national plant.
After our grueling day hiking, we dragged our blistered feet 45 minutes southish along highway 6 to Havelock for a nice evening at Bluemoon Lodge, a backpackers lodge. Rustic, but we had a shower (much needed) and laundry machines (also much needed). Dinner was at the Mussel Pot-a well known spot featuring New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels.
Today, we went another hour or so south to Nelson. Nelson is a nice little city and is really the final gateway for us to the real South Island. From here south should for the most part recede into small towns and mostly wilderness travel. We had a great time in Nelson though. Fantastic lodging at the Almond House-a backpackers lodge, but we have a private room-for all of $60 US. Great time. And…Nelson is known for it’s local brewing so we made sure to stop at a local brew pub to sample their wares.
We made sure to sample most of the beers in the house along with a delicious pizza! These are Ann's samples.
After lunch we walked up the the “Center of New Zealand” A bit of a pretentious sounding name, but apparently the spot is actually (more or less) the geographical center of the entire country. Well, we had to do that one even though it is a bit of a grueling hike straight uphill. Nice views of the surrounding countryside however.
Center of the world, er, um, New Zealand!
Made it!
And one last “photo comment” by Ann
OK, I'll have to stay one step ahead of that one!
So…tomorrow-Punakaiki! (hint, west coast, north of Greymouth)
See you then!