Christchurch Thunderstorm

Doesn't happen too often here, so great to watch it when we get one.

Hengistbury Head

With it's seemingly impossibly high cliffs and a scary slippery path climbing it's face, Hengistbury Head was always one of my favourite places to visit at the weekend. It was fitting then that whilst visiting my parents in the UK we had the chance to take Martin there. The cliffs were no longer as steep and tall of course and the scary path has long since disappeared in the face of continued erosion, but the headland and spit is still a very special place to visit. There is a very good website http://www.hengistbury-head.co.uk  which has a lot of detail about the history, geology and some ecology of the area.

 There are three routes to choose from on the headland. Firstly the beach itself, then the hilltop and finally the private road behind the hill that the 'train' runs along.  We walked out along the beach and rounded the long groyne, before stopping for morning tea at the café and then shortly afterwards lunch on the beach. The water of the Solent was much warmer than I remembered and I managed a decent dip.

From the top of Hengistbury Head - looking along the spit.

Beach Huts.

More Beach Huts.

With with parents on top of Hengistbury Head.

The historic Black House.

Beach Hut Alley.

We made it all the way out to Mudeford Spit, before returning past the Black House. We walked back over the hill which gives great views out over the Solent, Bournemouth and the surrounding area. You can also spy on the trains from the viewpoint at the top without having to walk back along the road.

Looking back to Mudeford Spit and Christchurch Harbour.

The view down to the beaches.

Christchurch Priory.

Christchurch Pop Up Mall

Cashel Mall reopened, some 9 months on from the February 22nd earthquake.


Christchurch Pop-Up Mall.


Chistchurch Pop-Up Mall.


Christchurch Pop-Up Mall. Formally Whitcoull's Site.

Fireworks from the pier

Marlborough Sounds and Wellington

Finished off our week's holiday with a trip on the Inter Islander across to Wellington to catch up with Des and Karin.


In the Marlborough Sounds.


Leaving the Sounds and entering the Cook Strait.


Arriving in Wellington.


One of the Interislander ferries docked at Wellington.


Des, Karin and Brian in Federation Square.

Kahikatea at Pelorus Bridge

New Zealand's tallest tree, Kahikatea or White Pine at Pelorus Bridge.

Totaranui

Back at Totaranui after 4 years and 11 months. Still as beautiful as ever. I had forgotten how the sand can really be so orange, the sky and sea so blue and the bush so green.
Walked over to Goat Bay and collected mussels for dinner off the same rocks as 5 years ago. Even managed a nice little run up the Headlands Track in the morning.




Carol and Bump on the beach.



Beach wildlife.


Tree Ferns on the Abel Tasman track.


Curious campsite Weka.


Sunrise over Totarauni Bay.


Looking towards the Headlands.


Looking towards Skinner Point and Goat Bay beyond.


First swim (well dipping head under) of the season.

Wharariki Beach and Cape Farewell

Wharariki Beach is a wild beach on the west side of farewell spit. A 20 minute walk from the road end through the farm park brings you to spectacular sand dunes and perfect views out to the Archway Islands.



Afterwards we walked up to Cape Farewell, we walked up from the road end but it is also possible to link Wharariki Beach, Cape Farewell and Farewell Spit by foot.


The track to Wharariki Beach through the farm park.


Wharariki Beach from the sand dunes.


On Wharariki Beach.


On Wharariki Beach.


The Archway Islands.


Looking north towards Cape Farewell.


The view from Cape Farewell.


Farewell Spit from Cape Farewell.


Cape Farewell, the nost northerly point of South Island.

Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit is a wildlife sanctuary and access to the spit itself it restricted to organised tours, however the first few kilometres are free access. Because it is so large it is difficult to grasp the true scale of the spit. Walking on the 'outside' you only see a couple of kilometres or so, because of it's curve. Walking on the inside is better and more sheltered.



The best place to actually see Farewell Spit is from the small hill just behind the visitor's centre, which is high enough to see the full length. Most of the area around here is a farm park, - whilst we were there it was lambing season and there were loads of delightful baby lambs about. We stayed at a camping ground in Puponga which is only a few minutes away and has a beautiful beach in it's own right.


Cute lamb at Farewell Spit Farm Park.


The inside beach at Farewell Spit.


And the outside beach.


Battling the wind near Fossil Point.


Battling the wind near Fossil Point.


Farewell Spit Farm Park.


More lambs at the Farm Park.

I
The Spit from above the visitor's centre.