Nelson to the West

Nelson town is a happening place on the South Island of New Zealand.  The weather is warm and the sun is shining.  After getting some rest from our 2am ferry we hit the streets and went to the thriving farmers market where I went on a sample spree and lost Eugene. I later found him sampling honey whiskey and gin at 9am.  We arrived in Nelson at the October art and music festivals final two days.   So we went and danced at two free shows and it felt good to shake a leg.  The next day we woke up wondering what to do, where to go and dude where’s Frenchy?

 There are two main routes on the South Island; down the very unpopulated West side or down the slightly more populated East side.  We couldn’t decide so we sent some emails to some people for a work trade opportunity.  While waiting for responses we went to the Abel Tasman National Park and went for a sunny day hike to a beautiful beach along the first quarter of this Great Walk. When we got back to a computer we found a response from a German man Dieter, who grows 750 varieties of apple trees and other fruits and vegetables through biodynamic farming practices.  It is true organic growing re-using everything in the system and planting with the stars and the moon. He wanted our help so we went to his farm, Treedimensions.  Dieter hooked us up with our own flat and cooked all our meals, we ate organic food all week, and we earned it because we worked hard.  We built garden beds, painted, cleaned, mulched, weeded, and made compost.   

After the farm we decided that we should head down the West side of the island. The stars seemed to be aligning just right. So we set off toward Westport to check out the fur seal colony at Cape Foulwind. Luckily for Eugene a surf spot was right there too, he surfed until sunset.  The following day we headed further south where the landscape becomes verdant green forest atop limestone cliffs falling majestically into river valleys. We hiked up a couple different river valleys with river crossings while taking dips in the chilly turquoise waters, aka shower time!

 Then we headed to the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes in Punakaiki.  Where geologists don’t understand how the rocks got so many layers looking like staked Pancakes!  The weather can be rainy on the West side often but we have somehow lucked out and have had some really nice days that feel like summer is coming!  Heading further south we stumbled upon one of NZ’s most internationally significant coal mines in Brunner.  So we took a look and learned some history.  Today we head from Greymouth continuing down the coast towards the craggy snow-capped peaks to check out some glaciers and hot springs!!!