Cape Farewell, Wharariki Beach, Farewell Split

Golden Bay 

Pillar Point track to lighthouse, 1 hr return

The lighthouse not much to see, but its a good view from the top as we can see the Farewell Spit. Not very clear picture and the strong winds around this area blows these sand dunes...

Cape Farewell***** 10min walk to this most northernmost point of NZ south island. Loving summer @ NZ!! Finally we get many sunny days..

 Bye Bye Cape Farewell~~

Wharariki Beach***** 20min walk one way, but it feels more than that because during the last bit the track goes along the sand dune and with the wind so strong, it takes more effort to finally reach the beach. The beach is absolutely beautiful.

Rocks with arches formed through the erosion process of thousands of years make the view even better!

And a surprise awaits us, walking further south of the beach we saw a seal cub playing in the pools of water. So adorable, with its big shiny eyes, with curiosity it swim towards Angie and wanted to sniff her hand! Angie afraid it might bite so retract her hand a little.

Then the cub just got scared by her gesture and swam awaay.... Aaahhh... Don't go yet..

Coffee break again~~

The wind and sea together eroded the sand dunes and helped shaped this Farewell Spit. There is a 2.5 hours walk around the spit and we tried to walk, eventually we can't find the track to outer beach, return on the same route.

Farewell Spit, the shape of a Kiwi! So amazing..

We thought yesterday's 26km Abel Tasman was tired enough for our legs but today walking on the sand dunes after sand dunes is so damn exhausting! With the wind against us. Gosh, what a day but the view at Cape Farewell and Wharariki beach is well worth it! We eventually comfort ourselves with a sweet treat of Choc Fondue! With the mixed berries 'picked' from the orchard at Blenheim, here's how it looks!

P&A special Chocolate fondue (melted Whittakers 5 roll refined creamy milk chocolate) with marshmallow, summer berries (cherries, boysenberries, rasberries) and kiwiana's kiwi fruit. Yummy!!!!!!

Free camp at Waitapu bridge, Takaka near turnoff to Pupu springs

Ohau Seal Colony, Sawcut Gorge

One of FAV brekkie, avocado + nutella on toast !

Good morning seals!

Here we are at Ohau Seal Colony.. The pups feeding on it's mummy..

Lovely

A nearby track to Ohau Stream is a must. Because there are seal pups playing in the waterfall pool =))

Llamas

Sawcut Gorge walk*****

We saw information of this track at Kaikoura's I-site and the information there tells us that this is a good track to go! But it can be dangerous as there are many river crossings, considering the weather is quite good for today, we went for this walk. Here's more info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/marlborough/south-marlborough/sawcut-gorge-isolated-hill-route/

Really, there are a lot of river crossing... the water is so cold... Angie fell down on the rocks twice getting a wet butt and pants. LOL

But the view is definitely worth it, and now we had experience river crossing at least =)

 The stream flows through this chasm, which is 150 metres deep, but in places, is only 2 metres wide. This marks the end of the Sawcut Gorge track and we head back the same way.


While driving out of the hilly roads to main highway, we got stuck in this sheepy jam for half an hour! Haha, what a sight, to see the farmer muster these cheeky sheeps with the assistance of his ever loyal doggies! And finally after half an hour of mustering, and some sheep trying to escape by runnning of the cliff, the farmer gets all his sheep back to the farm. YAY!

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise Day 1

We woke up feeling chilly and got out of our crib to find the hills looking a bit different, and yes of course, there's the fresh snow from yesterday night! No wonder we are freezing in there! OMG so happy that it's snowing still though middle of spring! We just love the snow caps!

Today is the beginning of another wonderful trip! Our Doubtful Sound crusie~~~~ So we travelled from this free camp spot half way between Queenstown to Manapouri, to Lake Manapouri. And the journey along is sooooo beautiful!!!!

Here we are at Lake Manapouri!! Loving this beautiful landscapeeee.. This is where we board on the Real Journey Doubtful Sound Cruise***** It's an overnight cruise along the Doubtful Sound fiord which is part of the Fiordland National Park area. We paid $263 each for a quad share cabin with 10% discount for using YHA card (only if you buy directly from Real Journey).

It was a trip to remember. First, we cruise along Lake Manapouri which is the third largest lake in NZ . The lake is so beautiful, surrounded by snow capped mountains all around. It was a 45 min ride before we reach the power station which is the transit point to a coach.

Beautiful day at Lake Manapouri, PERFECT!!!

Giant Eagle cloud~~~ :)

The coach ride took 1 hour, going real slowly with the driver as the nature guide showing us the ancient beech trees, waterfalls and lookouts along the way.

A viewpoint of the beginning of the sound!

The cruise is especially spectacular during rainy days when you can see hundreds or thousand of waterfall all along the fiord!!!

We reach the wharf and board the overnight boat, Navigator something.. We got settled in the 4 bed dorm, shared with another Malaysian couple we met on the coach, Tony and Stephanie. It was really nice meeting other Malaysian working holidayers. We stick together throughout this cruise. Our comfy bed for the night~

Super tall waterfall, imagine them doubling them doubling their width on rainy days ... nice...

Mystery looking Fiord :) 

Welcomed by a muffin and variety of tea and coffee, we were definitely looking forward to dinner! Highly promoted as scrumptious, yummy licious buffet.. Woohoo can't wait. But before that, we cruise around the main highlights of this tour, the Doubtful Sound. This place isn't actually a 'sound' (meaning landscape that had been shaped by river) but is actually a Fiord. Fiord is a Norwegian word meaning landscape that was shaped by glaciers which is what these famous Doubtful Sound and Milford sound is all about. Because back then they have not found a suitable word for it, they just call it a sound.

We stop at a safe place for water activities like kayaking, swimming and small boat cruising. We chose kayaking around this beautiful Blanket Bay, guided by crew of the boat. It was only 45 min of kayaking, but it feels nice getting close to the sound and see some Weka (wood hen) around. there were even a 'hotel' in this little island. Its funny, but it isn't really a hotel, it is just a hut for the crayfish fishermans and freezer facility.

Blanket Bay "Hotel"

 Oystercatcher

As there are so much rain in this area, above this saltwater is a thick layer of freshwater which actually makes this seawater not that salty, peter tested the water and prove it's really not salty!

Back to the boat for a hot shower and then greeted by hot soup and bun. Yums! Then cruise again to look for the Fiordland Crested penguins.

Beyond this rocks, is the open sea.... very rough water there, so our captain is careful not to throw us overboard!

Little fairy penguins spotted swimming along...

The seal colony... 

Here we are!! Fiordland crested penguin. These guys are just super cute!!! Yellow 'eyebrows', hahaha..  and with their walking posture, they are just a sight to watch! But they are quite far away from where our boat is, so it's really hard to get a good picture. 

Dinner TIME!!! 

All you can eat on the buffet line: Smoked salmon, mussels, roast lamb, beef, chicken, veggies, kumara (sweet potato), salad.. Dessert: pavlova, caramel cheesecake, choc mud cake, blueberries crumble, fruits... Cheese platter..

OMG really can we finish this?

Finger licking good!

Tough night for our stomachs, processing all the NZ goodies!

Before ending this fully packed day with food for our eyes and stomach, we're had some food for thoughts... At the end of our dinner, the crew showed us some slides about the history and facts of this fiord, as well as how NZ as first was a part of Australia in Gondwana continent but drifted out and out away to the south. And  then an Australian commented, "NZ haven't drifted far enough". Woooo, that raise a lot of voices then.. Hehe... Funny how the OZs and Kiwis always tease each other!