Somehow, somewhere Xmas has been and gone, and I can't find the piccys. So first a road trip. Stevie and I went on one of the top ten road trips in the world!! It goes from Nelson on State Highway 6 to the West Coast and down. (Shanti is on the same road trip as we speak and says it's awesome.)
First Westport where there be seals, north of there is a place called Dennison which we just had to visit cos there's a really exciting old coal mine. (Shanti skipped the coal mine in favour of surfing lessons!)
This is the same Dennison of the 'Denniston Rose' book and the incline is everybit as steep and scary as the book describes. As it was incredibly misty that day it really had the feel of a ghost town.
Undeterred by the mist, and the fact he was about to descend 600metres in 5km, on a bridlepath built a century ago and used only by trampers the last 50, Stevie sets off on his bike. By the end muddy and shaky he says that's a ride to boast of but not to repeat. There's steep drops and waterfalls to cross apparently. I left the bike on top of the car and met him at the bottom.
I've sent these piccys of the Fox river and the Ballroom Overhang to the UK before. But they're worth including as our first overnight tramp and our first sleep out in the open. It's a stunning walk and includes limestone caves to explore, many river crossings, beautiful swimming holes and the best natural bivouac in New Zealand. Look how teeny tiny Stevie is below the overhang!
I nearly missed this piccy and it's a classic Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.
Last stop on our tour south was the Franz Joseph Glacier (Shanti's there now) obviously a place that takes your safety seriously. We only got as far as the danger signs but will definitely do a glacier walk next time cos it looks like fun.
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