Myself, Orla and Ruby (our car) accompanied by Mike and Bubbles (Mike's campervan) left Wanaka for a our little road trip out West and up to Coast. First stop was Makarora were we camped for the night in Cameron Flats. We did all the touristy things, Blue Pools, Haast Pass View Point, Davis Flat walk, Fantail Falls, Thunder Falls, Pleasant Flat, Roaring Billy, Neils Beach & Jacksons Bay. Ruby even bumped into Bubbles. Apparently the handbrake is a tad loose. When we came back from one of the walks we found her nicely nestled into the back of bubbles. Thanks goodness it was Mikes van and no one elses :) Jacksons Bay and Neil's beach was interesting to say the least. We decided to drive to the beach to see if it might be a nice camp spot and what a fridge we got. Its white bait season and what looked to be a trailer park of redneck white bait fishermen had taken up camp just before the beach - scary sight. They even had a scare crow - although I think it was ment to be a scare human not a scare crow. Quick turn around, foot to the floor and we were outta there.
On Tuesday we awoke to pouring rain, not just drizzel anymore. Properly raining. We drove to Haast and then on Moeraki Lake, where we hid out in the van. When eventually the rain seemed to brake we walked to Monro beach. Unfortunately, the rain didn't break and we got soaked. We searched for Penguins, none to be found. Just rain, lots of rain.
The forecast was sunshine on Wednesday so we headed to Fox Glacier and trekked around that for the morning, Lake Matterson in the afternoon, and finally down to Gillespie's beach for a glorious sunset and a great campsite. Guess what, I was awoken plenty of times during the night the sound of ... you guess it ... pouring rain.
Thursday was a bit of a wash out quite literally. It rained from morning to night - and rain like I haven't seen in a long time. It rained heavy, then lightened then got worse and worse and worse and then the wind picked up, then we had debris. Then we had to cross those one way bridges, the very special bridges that are not only one way but also have trains using the same one way bridge. Let me tell they are scary. But add gale for winds and then you are in for some interesting times.
We spent the night in Noah's Ark backpackers... we felt we needed to be in doors and away from the rain for just one night. On Friday it cleared into only occasional showers to we headed for a 11 KM walk along the sea front on the out skirts of Greymouth, from there we drove to Reefton, and did a lovely hike from their on Saturday morning (he he in the drizzel :) the sun did pop its head out for the second half of the walk, making it really spectacular. We drove to Mururia Springs to try out the natural (though commercial) springs. Very relaxing. It cleared into a lovely evening. We built a camp fire, baked potatoes over it & toasted marshmallows. An hour after going to bed, the skies opened and it poured all night long and into the morning. We packed up and headed to Christchurch... once we got over the Lewis passed it cleared.
Despite rain, we had a great week. I think the rain only enhanced the fun. Ooooo, arghhhh!! and everything was very pretty and green :)
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