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Motueka is like a magnet to Jude and I, it has been a year since we were last here and here we are back again. We arrived at the NZMCA Park yesterday (Friday 4th) to beautiful hot weather, just as we remembered it last January. Went down the Main Street and being a Friday it was as busy as, with people everywhere, lots of traffic heading either to Kaiteriteri or over the Takaka hill to explore the Golden Bay area for the weekend or possibly they just got their Xmas leave after working the holiday period. It was a hot afternoon and the walk backRead More →

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It’s now day three into 2019 and it’s up early for the hike up the Matiri Valley to Lake Matiri. This involves about 6km of 4WD track before walking 5 km up the Matiri River to the Matiri Hut. This lake was formed approximately 300 years ago and I would say coincides with the last big alpine fault movement that dropped a massive side of a mountain across the valley to block off the river, hence forming Lake Matiri. The first part of our journey was up the Matiri West Bank Road before we got another test for our Suzuki Jimny as the 6km 4WDRead More →

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Woke to a fantastic warm morning with another day of exploring the local surroundings arranged by Jude, the first part is the Upper Matakitaki to cross over the Maruia Saddle to Burnbrae where it meets Hwy 65 where the Lewis Pass comes out exits heading west. As per the day before it was what Jude and I considered a easy road which at this time of the year can comfortably be done in a average car… give or take the odd pan strike from one of the very few small rocks that may have strayed from their historical resting place to the middle of theRead More →

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Leaving a cold Christchurch head north, improving weather SUN oh yay! After experiencing beautiful weather in the McKenzie country and Fairlie temp drop 29*c to 12! Stopped in Amberley for a coffee at the Little Vintage Cafe and very good coffee at that highly recommended 😉 We cruise on up to Hurunui stop at The Balmoral Recreation Reserve for the night a stunning area with plenty of space and Hurunui River not too far away …. fishing yeah nah very dirty and high after thunderstorms 😖. We enjoy a lovely evening thunder booming round the hills and down comes the rain! The following day dawnsRead More →

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Twizel, the place of trout and Salmon fishing…. well maybe for the experts anyway. Jude has taken up trout fishing, she bought a lovely rod, some spinners, soft baits and weights of various shapes and sizes, mostly recommended by YouTube and local shops. For the past three days it has been trial and error as she learns the intricate ins and outs of knot tying, casting and stealth… well a giant fluorescent pink elephant trying to hide on a tennis court would have a better chance of being not seen than Jude. So far we have seen more trout than I have ever seen, unfortunatelyRead More →

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It’s been a while since our last post but boy have we been busy sorting out things back in the South after the passing of Jude’s dad. Southland it seems is harder to get away from as we found ourselves bouncing like a yo-yo up and down the South Island with either family or business issues always needing addressing. BUT finally we are away again with the only commitment a service for our Moho in Dunedin. Most of our time had been spent in Manapouri or Te Anau with the occasional visit to Otautau and Invercargill for family catchups pre Christmas. Our first stop wasRead More →