From North to South

Cook Strait

The transfer from the north island to the south island of New Zealand is a 3.5 ferry ride over Cook Strait. A ride that is supposedly one of the most beautiful in the world, but when your a group of travelling boys pinching pennies you sometimes miss the must sees. We got the cheapest ride across at 7pm, which I was hopping would still provide some awesome sunset photo opportunities. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and we were forced indoors to watch the cloud and rain pass overhead, hopefully the ride back is more enjoyable. After pulling off the ferry we headed to Nelson to see Chris' close uncle and two aunts.

We arrived in Nelson the next morning and were able to find Chris' family who were there waiting for us with welcoming arms, and treats. The few days at the Annett's are all combined into a sort of blur of pure laziness and restoration. Because when the opportunity arrises for three dudes who have been living in close quarters and smelling each other BO for the past few weeks to have a hot shower and sit on a couch and not a lawn chair, you take it, you take it 9 times out out 10, the other 1 time the three boys didn't make it there at all. It was such an awesome place to stop and get some genuine home-cooked meals that we are and will forever be grateful for, oh, also I think it was good for Chris to meet up with some close family members. So this is a shout-out to Joe, Sheila and Ruth, thanks for the hospitality and everything else, we greatly appreciated it! We appreciated so much we may just have to stop by on the way back?

The TIM TAM SLAM!

From Nelson it was along the coast headed north up to the Able Tasman National Park. One of the most scenic sites in the north of the south island, and for good reasons. We spent two days laying on the white sand beaches the coast has to offer, tossing the worn out pigskin around and getting some serious reading in (a new hobby for Chris and myself.) Then south from the Able Tasman and heading west we made it a fair ways drive and were able to stop at Ariki falls on the Buller River, just a short detour along the highway. A fire on the shore was in order as we watched the sun go down. The following morning brought a hail of bugs, something we have had to become accustomed to in the south, forcing us to hit the road as soon as we woke.

It was west some more until we made it to the coast and the city of Westport, nothing exciting really here, I think we saw some seals though and another lighthouse though. Again it was south along the coast, rolling through Punakaiki but not before stopping at the Truman Track and seeing the pancake rocks. The Truman Track is supposedly one of the best 20 minute walks in the world and its worth it. Ill let the photos speak for themselves.

Again it was on the road and south some more, pretty unpredictable eh? We were able to get some supplies in Greymouth (pronounced Grey-mith, don't ask me why) as well as give the ol' girl her first oil change. I think it was here that we brewed some of the meanest home-made sammy's in the back of the van and then later on closed down a Subway. Then south again along the coast and into Glacier Country…

Lates, N8