On the road again...

We’d already decided before coming across that with just a month to spend in NZ we would stick to the south island and enjoy where we travelled rather than zooming from place to place without really stopping and trying to cover both Islands. That means we’ll miss out on some exceptional sights in the North to be sure but it’s a sacrifice worth making, we feel, to enjoy the relaxed pace of life for which the kiwis are famed.

The first day we head up the East coast and see for the first time (at least for me) the dramatic coastline. We opt to camp on the beach a short distance before the town and idle away a few hours exploring rockpools and then building a campfire, or rather we take in turns collecting firewood then Rob does his “man make fire” bit and makes the fire. We’re struggling to get sufficient firewood to keep the fire going and I widen the search a bit then get a bit over ambitious and attempt to haul an entire tree back along the beach. It has the desired affect though and the fire keeps us going until we turn in for bed.

A glorious sunrise greets us in the morning and we call briefly into the Kaikora for breakfast before heading on further up the coast. Alongside the road we spot signs for skydiving so we drop in to enquire on the chances of a fun jump and we’re told its unlikely as the operation is really only for tandems. We’re warned that this is likely to be the story at most DZs in NZ but they suggest we try Abel Tasman as they apparently are most geared up for it. We call into Nelson to book our places on the Abel Tasman track (we’re determined to get fit and enjoy the out of doors over here even though my heels are still feeling a little bit bruised from my landing a couple of weeks ago). Yet again the track accommodation is almost fully booked and we have only one option available if we aren’t to camp. We toy briefly with the idea of hiring camping gear but I don’t relish the prospect of carrying that as well as our food and clothing for 3 days over the 40km of hilly track so we opt again for the huts and we’re booked in for two days time.

After a somewhat appalling Guinness pie (dried out completely) we buy the dried food we think we’ll need for the track (dried potato, vegetables, noodles, soup etc. etc.) and carry on through to Motoeka. By now the skies have clouded over but we call into the DZ anyway just to show our faces. James, a British lad that we jumped with at the Equinox boogie, is actually working manifest and the owner was at the boogie too so we’re told to come back the next day and assured of a jump. We set up camp again by the beach and the sky clears as evening approaches giving us fresh hope for the morning.

Clear blue skies greet us when we wake and Rob springs out of bed, almost driving me down there while I’m still in bed, he allows me the dignity of at least dressing but not getting breakfast before we’re back at the club. As promised the guys juggle manifest and we’re fitted on a lift with the tandems and given the pleasure of some stunning views out up the coast as we ride up to altitude. A couple of jumps later things quieten down for a bit as the wind picks up too much to jump and we sit and have a good chat to the owner about the NZ skydive scene and of course the Nox boogie. He advises that we try the DZ down in Fox Glacier as he is mates with the owner and says he is a mad keen fun-jumper too and was also at the Nox so we might be in with a chance. He offers for us to store our gear at the DZ while we do the Abel Tasman track which gives us some peace of mind at least so we store all of our stuff away and then push off up to Marahau where we’ll get a water taxi from early next morning to start the walk.

Initial campsites in Marahau are fully booked but we call in at Old McDonald’s Farm (no kidding) and we secure a site. The sight of three pot bellied pigs scurrying into the hedge as we go back to the van delights me and after dropping the camper off at our plot we have a further explore and discover Llamas, sheep, more pigs, chickens, peacocks and the like in various fields round the site and a very cute Jack Russell scampering round like he owns the place. Apart from some cheeky people who decide to pull up on our plot in their car late at night to sleep (to which I was too cowardly to ask them to leave but I made several loud comments to let them know what I thought of them freeloading, (weak I know, but they left really early so it may have had some effect)) the site was a good spot and we awoke next day and packed all our gear early ready for our first “expedition”.