South Island odyssey:

Day One.

Left home at 0809 hrs with an ridiculously overloaded Vectra to commute to Wellywood for the ferry.  Outside temperature after last night's front at 11 degrees, the coldest it has been for months. 

Simple route, done it all before, have photos from all over the area covered, so very few stops.  Down 27 to Tirau, SH1 to Tokoroa, then via Mangakino and down the Western Bays Access to Turangi.  Stopped for a cuppa from the thermos on the top of the Desert Road (where it was blowing a half a gale, and back down to 11 degrees - bushshirt went on over the T-shirt quick when I got out of the car), then on to the Sugar Plum Cafe, between Hunterville and Bulls for smoko.  Good coffee and most excellent carrot cake (neither of us really needed it, but what the hey, we're on holiday.)

Fuel at Otaki, then punched up "Lodging" on the Garmin and let it locate a  camp close to Wellington, which it did most well: $32 for a room in the lodge at Camp Elsdon, which is cheaper than it would have been to put up the tent at Hutt Valley Motor Camp.  Had a cruise around Titahi Bay, wound up right out at the park at the head of the harbour: like Wellington always is on a good day, seriously pretty, and none of Auckland's humidity.  Dinner at Denny's, including pudding (neither of us really needed it, but what the hey, we're on holiday.)

640 kms for the day.

Day Two.

A modest day's motoring, ending at 844 kilometres from home, but a lot of scenery seen in a short trip.

Third vehicle onto the ship, and first off, decided to lose the traffic by taking Jean around through Port Underwood.  Truth to be told, I have never seen that road in the light myself: years ago I spent a night in the White Bay DOC Camp, and motored off on the olden blue Holden to get the first boat in dawn's early dark and pissing rain.  Very different in bright daylight and dry.  What was red mud years ago was powdery dust, and all the local drivers were loose gooses, so I was going slow out of caution.  Good thing too, one clown in a ute came round a corner all crossed up - thank you, Opel, for giving the Vectra good brake and traction control, without them today it would have been all over, Red Rover.  Just as well there was no highway patrol up there, I would have gotten a ticket for doing the whole 44 kms without REACHING the 50 kph speed limit.

Had a hunt around Blenheim to see if any retailers could help source a new battery for our netbook, but they are talking one or two weeks to get one into this dark and benighted, primitive world that is the South Island. I will ring Acer during the week and see if I can get one via Visa and get it couriered to one of the rellies in Invergurgle or Ch-ch to pick up as we go past.  Anyhoo, sidetripping and southward progress continued: we now know there is no public access to the Cape Campbell Lighthouse, found out the hard way.  Made the compulsory stops at The Store at Kekerengu, and the Ohau Point seal colony where there was LOTS of little bubba-looie pups for The Librarian and Rusty to goo over.  Even had a choccie bar in the car this avo (neither of us really needed it, but what the hey, we're on holiday.)

Night spent in Kaikoura, and nearly ready to shoot off again now.

Day Three:

From Kaikoura went inland to Hurunui, then back out to SH1 for 800 metres before diving onto the Inland Scenic Route to the Waimakariri Gorge.

From there over Porters and Arthurs Passes to Kumara Junction and on to Hokitika for the night.  After turning onto the main drag for the West Coast, everything is 100% tourist oriented, bar one.  They can't change the magnificence and majesty of the lanscape.  The tourist traps we can easily avoid: as New Zealand citizens (well, I am, Jean is still an infamous Pommie overstayer) we can't afford them.  Hokitika has been totally abandoned to grovelling to tourists since my last visit.  I may rue it, but tourism is an absolute godsend to the Coasters, and so good luck to them, say I: at least now they have something happening on the Coast to keep their children close to home, and it's better than ripping the guts out of what is left of the bush.

I was surprised to see Rata still flowering in the Otira Gorge: thought it would have been all over for the year.  Wasn't surprised to see Kea at the viewpoint at the top of the gorge: they are smart cookies and of course they will congregate where people are silly enough to feed them.  Got some great photos, and will try to put some up in the next couple of days, but not tonight, need bye-byes now.  Sleep off my big feed of glorious Hokitika Fission Chips.   (Neither of us really needed it, but what the hey, we're on holiday.)