Plan Your Trip Ahead

We have now decided that if it takes say 3 hours to drive somewhere, allow 6 hours. With all of our stopping for photo ops, groceries, lunch, souvenirs….I am surprised it actually doesn't take longer. Our catch phrase has become: ""We don’t need to be anywhere, do we?"" or “Are we in a hurry?”

[Thanks to that gas station lady we now have a catch phrase!]

Kaiteriteri is a beautiful small ocean beach town. I emailed ahead to request a site close to the beach and we were extremely lucky to get a “front row” site. The view from the back of our campervan is superb. Our neighbours are mere feet away on each side but with that view out the back, who cares. Our campervan is a hatchback style so we just open up the back to have our own private alfresco experience. Our first night (after our swim) we gazed out at the beach while drinking our Highfield wine that we picked up direct from the winery and while slurping our green tipped mussels that we picked up direct from NZ’s largest fishing port (Nelson) on the way here.




I thought I was in heaven; however it got even better! The light at Sunset was incredible and then to top it off as the full moon crested over the mountains in the distance it actually looked like the glow of a forest fire. In less than three minutes the moon was over the mountain. Ron practically fell out of the back of the camper trying to get the camera on a tripod so he could capture it in time.

[I may have had a few glasses of wine in me by that point, which may account for the practically falling out of the van part. I did manage to get a few good shots of the moonrise though. We happened to be up early the next day and caught the sunrise over the same mountain. I must have taken a couple dozen shots of our 'backyard’ by now. Every time the light changes it looks better. This place really is spectacular. It’s a really fun atmosphere as well, like everyone’s on spring break. Judging by the huge glass recycling bin filled right to the top with beer and wine bottles, everyone else seems to having a good time here too.]

We rented a double seater kayak the next morning and cruised around the adjacent bays for a few hours. We have discovered that kayaking is really a great way to see (and experience) a coastal place. It was a bit choppy out in the middle of the bays; kind of like a gentle fun roller coaster. We beached our kayak at a small beach to have our packed lunch and try out the snorkelling (it was crap – the snorkelling, not the ham sandwiches). The kayaking was good but I wish we had taken a water taxi into the Abel Tasman Park and kayaked from there. We’ll save that for next time I guess. [There was some wildlife along the coast where we were, but there is apparently tons more up in the park…seals, seabirds etc.]


More photos here:

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