Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We left the ferry and decided to drive along the coastal road to Nelson. Sleep was not an option, as we would pass out and not wake up again until late, which would really mess us up, so we fought the tiredness.
Our first taste of the South Island did not disappoint. The scenery was quite amazing. Marlborough Sounds is made up of vast inlets with high mountains all around covered in tropical vegetation. At 8am there was mist everywhere and it really was quite eerie. One thing that also changed were the roads. We found ourselves on the windiest, narrowest roads I have ever seen and driving a big old campervan made for an interesting few hours, especially for the Tom and John in the back. Fortunately I was upfront either driving or navigating, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble, especially given my stomach.
Eventually we came across a small village called Havelock, the home of green muscles. We made friends with a guy called Shane, who owned a hostel and he gave us 2 mountain bikes and 2 kayaks for the day. John and I were first up on the bikes, and Shane directed us on a mountain bike trail around the bays. It was absolutely brilliant riding, very hilly and dangerous in places but we were surrounded by the most beautiful countryside. After that it was time for some kayaking, which I have never done before. Joel and Tom seemed to be very wet and they also decided it would fun to watch us rather than go biking, which seemed a bit strange at first. However, once I was sitting in the kayak it became obvious why as instantly I lost balance and went under. Shane had in fact lent us the worst kayak in New Zealand. I spent the next half an hour wrestling with this thing before giving up, soaking wet, seriously muddy and very smelly from the dirty river water. Never mind, it was still quite fun.
We dried off and decided it was time for some muslces. We went to the ship inn and had the best muscles I have ever eaten, by a long shot. In the evening we sampled the Havelock nightlife, only to find out we were not liked in the slightest, for reasons we couldn't quite work out. The village pub was a very odd place, it kind of reminded me of the bar in crocodile dundee, where everyone is family and outsiders are not really welcome. We spent the night sleeping by the side of road and left early the next morning.
- comments