Thursday 15th February – Driving the West coast to chez Edwards

We were glad that we’d squeezed in some driving yesterday as it today we had to reach Nelson in the middle of the north coast where we would be staying with the Edwards for a few nights.  As usual, New Zealand managed to delay us with not-to-be-missed scenery and experiences along the way! 

 

Pancake rocks - look at all of those layers!

I think the one in the middle should be called 'Rabbit rock' - I don't care if it actually isn't!

Another blowhole.... not blowing!

Chimney rock

This is just one example of what seems to be the constant fight in NZ against coastal roads being washed into the sea.

We took a little added detour to Cape Foulwind.  Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?!  But there is a New Zealand fur seal colony there we wanted to see.  This colony appears to be very well monitored.  Pups there that can’t be that old were already tagged- orange tags for females, blue ones for the boys. The mini baby seals were unbelievably cute and the noise at times from the colony was deafening. 

Left - orange for a girl and right - blue for a boy, aaaaahhhhhh

 

We left the coastline behind us and continued inland, still on Highway 6. 

  

Next stop, Buller Gorge Swing bridge, New Zealand’s longest swing bridge.   

Buller Gorge swing bridge

The view down the river

Not for those suffering from vertigo - you walk along a see-through grill.

There was the option of walking one way and zip-lining, back but we were keeping an eye on the clock, not wanting to arrive in Nelson too late that night.  We were happy not to hang around after we failed to put any repellent on and both got eaten by mosquitoes on our first crossing of the gorge.  We turned around and beat a hasty retreat back to the van to continue the drive.

We eventually reached the Edwards amazing house in Richmond a little after 5pm.  Their poor black Labrador, Eddie Edwards, had been waiting for a walk on the beach!  So, we dumped our bags in our room and headed straight out for a lovely walk barefoot on the sand.

On our return we were treated to a BBQ with some amazing steak and salad.  We had important plans for an early morning the next day so it wasn’t a late one.  We got to sleep in a proper bed in a proper bedroom and with our own bathroom for first time in aaaaages! It was heavenly….