Such poor internet so difficult to post. Trying this to see if anything will load Wednesday Headed towards the small town of Reefton. Called in to Greymouth on the coast. It seemed a quiet little place despite being the largest town on the west coast. Picked up some stores and got back on the road. The landscape changed as the mountains became more distant and there was a lot more farm land. Big open skies with white fluffy clouds … perfect. We stopped for a picnic. Eventually arrived at Reefton. It was like driving into an old cowboy town…It’s a thriving country town and makes a lot from the tourists passing through. This is gold rush country …it was mined in this area from 1905. Set up camp then had a walk round town, stopping for a beer in a local hostelry.
Tuesday Woke up to a wild and windy morning… what’s going on? The locals assured us that it would get better later. Headed out in the rain… we’re only here for a few days so no time to waste. Walked to Waitangi Treaty Grounds which commemorates the treaty between the British and the Maori people of New Zealand. I learnt a lot about the history of the country and the part Britain had in its development. The grounds are magnificent and there has been a huge amount of work to restore them to their natural state…pre sheep station times. It’s a haven for birds which were hugely important in Māori culture. We saw some beautiful Eastern Rosella…such a vibrant red! Had lunch in the cafe then walked to some local waterfalls. Such an exciting walk with different trees and ferns all around us. We got to walk on boardwalks through the mangrove trees!. Along the route there were many stoat traps as they are the main predator of the endangered kiwi bird. The water ...
Saturday Transit day… Returned the car and got a lift to the airport. Successfully checked ourselves and our bags in independently … first time this trip as there has been a hitch every time up until today! Had a coffee and caught up with loads of correspondence. Air New Zealand took us safely to Christchurch where we picked up another hire car … an older Subaru legacy…suits the retro vibe of this escapade. The assistant said she’d taken photos of the damage … would’ve taken up a whole reel in the old days!, . Still it goes well with its 270,000 kms on the clock. Went to the outdoor shop and bought a tent, then to Kmart for the rest of the kit… a grand layout of 400 NZ dollars roughly £200. Looked at the weather forecast and promptly booked another night at the Motel in Christchurch as thunderstorms and torrential rain are forecast for Sunday! Not an auspicious start to the camping. Revised our itinerary for the coming week to capitalise on the sunnie...
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