Private: 21st October 2006
October 21st, 2006 - Posted in NZ Search - by Sarah|
Well, the laptop finally arrived and we headed off South via Wellington, where we stayed with Nathan and Lisa for a couple of nights. While there we managed to fit in a visit to BATS Theatre to see a gothic romance about Jack the Ripper. New Zealand is still definitely in the Gothic phase that the UK went through in the 80’s – further evidenced by the Zombie Parade the previous day through central Wellington. After watching the blustery gales for two days we made our way to the ferry port with trepidation but had a very calm crossing, arriving in Picton around 10pm, just in time to get to our campsite cabin before they closed for the night.
Waiting to board the ferry.
The next day dawned clear and sunny and we headed off through Blenheim in high spirits. At Cheviot, where we stopped for lunch and to pay our respects to the garage where the Capri spent Xmas last time we were here, we were trapped inside the cafe by torrential rain and hail. That’s when we decided that maybe it wasn’t going to be a good night to get our tiny summer 2 man tent out for the first time this year.
We made it to Christchurch despite the weather and the next day we got our business with Transworld (the company shipping our stuff over) sorted out in time to catch a movie – Brick, highly recommended. We also took the opportunity of another sunny afternoon to drive over the Summit Road on the Port Hills and take in the views of Sea, Plains and Snow-capped Mountains. We also almost lost the Capri when Sarah wanted to trade it in on a 5 litre V8 Mustang but good taste prevailed in the end. Lots fewer old cars about than last time we were here, to the extent that we exchange waves with drivers of Triumph Heralds and 1940’s classics when we pass them on the road. (Where we are now on the West Coast of course you wave at everyone just to relieve the tedium of the empty roads.)
Christchurch from the port hills.
From Christchurch we headed over Arthurs Pass and North up the Grey Valley past Lake Brunner and through Reefton before heading through Inangahua and down the Buller Gorge to Westport. All this area looks ideal for the type of land we’re looking for (when you can see it through the clouds and rain that is). Westport is really humming these days – it even has a 200 seat cinema where we watched a movie with 2 other people (Tsotsi – another recommendation).
Lake Brunner
We went to explore a few pieces of land just North of Westport which were a bit flat and boring and in amongst loads of small lifestyle blocks. It was a good start though and a good test of our wet weather gear. After making contact with a couple of Karamea agents we headed up towards the end of the road and are staying at Rongo’s (Click Here) for the weekend. We spent yesterday afternoon (Glorious sunshine again) on a tour with one of the local agents and saw some fabulous blocks that are out of our league (on the hill in the photo below) that we are trying hard to think of down sides to!
South Terrace Karamea
We also found some smaller blocks that look alright although some are a bit exposed as the section below is. We have some more to look at tomorrow and a couple lined up around the North Coast (near Collingwood!) for next week. Loads more to see nearer Greymouth after that and then we’ll see…
Oparara Road Karamea
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