Angela and Cole's Catlins Adventure and Moke Lake Off-Roading Excursion

Angela came to visit!

After getting to see some of the sights on the North Island, including Hobbiton (the Shire in Lord of the Rings) and a sweet glow worm cave, she made her way to Queenstown, then the bustling metropolis of Otautau. We had one day to kill before our friend Emily arrived in Queenstown and our itinerary really took off. To fill the day, we decided on a trip to the Catlins - always a hit with the visitors!

We elaborately planned our day around the tide schedule so we could see the Cathedral Caves. So we got up early and hit the road by 7 so we could be at the caves at low tide. Surprise! The caves are closed for the season!  So that threw off our entire day. We were going to be at the blowhole at high tide, but suddenly we have two bonus hours to fill, and the weather was not cooperating.

But ever the intrepid travelers, we ventured forth and had a pretty fantastic day in the Catlins.

First Stop (aside from the disappointing stop at the entrance to the caves, which told us they were closed - the website never mentioned it... not that I'm mad or bitter that they tried to sabotage our day) : Florence Hill Lookout:

One thing I love about the Catlins is that I always discover something new when I go. Since this made trip number Four for me, I was shocked to discover that I had never noticed this tree that looks shockingly like a camel!  

I briefly actually thought it was a camel standing there, which would have been the only thing more exciting than a tree shaped like a camel.

After coming down from the excitement of this natural topiary wonder, we moved on up the coast to Pourakaunui Falls.

I tried to convince Angela that this tiny waterfall was the real attraction. I even made her squat down and take a picture with the waterfall. I like to believe that she believed me.

So imagine her delight when we walked on down to this beauty!

I was pretty excited, too. I was so thrilled with the perceived success of my practical joke that I decided to get acrobatic and balance on that rock for a photoshoot.

It really is a pretty place.

Moving on up the coast again, we stopped for some lunch in Owaka - I recommend the Nachos from the diner. (Nachos are always a gamble here in NZ).

Then on to Kaka Point for a stop at the Nuggets and the Penguin viewing hut. If you recall, I previously had a 100% success rate for penguin sightings at this spot, so the pressure was on. Problem was, our schedule was thrown off so bad by the caves being closed that we were far too early for a good chance at the penguins. We stopped briefly at the hut, but decided to head up the road to go to the lighthouse for a bit to give the penguins some time to finish their hunting/feeding for the day.

Turns out, it decided to really start raining at that point, so we had to sit in the car for about 15 minutes before making a break for it. That ended up being a great decision because we ended up with a cloudy but dry look at the lighthouse and nuggets.

Never gets old. 

As a new twist on an old favorite, I decided I would venture off the beaten path, and climb what was questionably a trail up the large ridge off to the side of the lighthouse ridge. Angela turned around to take a picture and I disappeared. By the time she noticed I was gone, I was here:

The 'trail' went VERY close to that edge a few times, so I just clung to the bushes as I took the steps on the edge. Having just rained, I didn't trust the ground to be super sturdy. 

But the reward was worth the risk. Check out this view:

A new look at the nuggets!

After making my way back down, Angela and I reunited at the nuggets viewing platform:

A couple more shots from the Nuggets:

Angela got some fun videos of some seals fighting out on those rocks.

Feeling like things were really coming together for us, we decided to give the penguin viewing another try. The hut is just in the next bay down from the lighthouse.

And after just 10 quick minutes, we got to see a rare yellow-eyed penguin. My 100% success rate lived despite still being a couple hours early for prime viewing time!

A quick stop at the blowhole finalized our trip to the Catlins.

Emily was arriving the following day, so we talked about our options on what to do before her flight got in. Angela liked the idea of a hike around Moke Lake, the place where you can get some insanely good reflection pictures. I thought that would be great because the day I went the first time, the road was perfect, dry, and made for a quick 20 minute drive from Queenstown. We should have plenty of time for the 1.5 hour hike around the lake, pictures, then head back to go get Emily.

What I didn't calculate in was the heavy rainfall the area had just gotten, which turned my nice smooth easy road into a mud pit. A miles-long mud pit.

It doesn't look too crazy, but there were a few times we went sideways and slid towards the lake.

But ever the thorough tour guide, I kept my foot in it, and we made our way on to Moke Lake.

A little 4x4 mudding trip never hurt anybody. You can imagine that I was VERY upset about HAVING to drive around in the mud for an hour.

And the trusty Hyundai Tucson once again proved its worth:

You can't see the mud all over it, but it was there.

And the views were magnificent. But since the drive took about 3 times longer than originally planned, we just had time for pictures, no hike, before  heading back to Queenstown to pick up Emily.

so great.

Angela taking it all in.

This place is real....

Just amazing.

Then we were off to go get Em for more adventures. But did all go as planned??? Stay tuned, my friends!

Whiting Christmas: Part 6 - Hokitika, Sunsets and Bon Voyage

Time for the final installment from our Christmas vacation.  We traveled down the west coast after pancake rocks and spent Christmas night in Hokitika.  They had a great Christmas day feast at the hotel we were staying at, a giant fancy buffet of turkey, fish, roast, and all the trimmings.  It was delicious and a nice way to spend the evening.

The sun started to depart and the sky started changing colors.  This was the view from our balcony.

Down towards the beach they had constructed a large stone levee along the beach to help break the ocean waves and protect the town.

There were a few other beach combers enjoying the view as well.   Driftwood covered a lot of the sand.

One last selfie for the trip.  Vacation's almost over...

Looking back at the hotel, the sky was changing in all directions.

The waves were still strong.  The sounds of the ocean and the steady wind made it a nice night.

The colors had just about faded and we thought it was about over, but we were wrong...

The beach was at a shallow angle so the water would spread over a large area before retreating to the sea.

Another short video to show you what the night was like...

The sun was long gone, but the reds and pinks started to pop into the sky...

Such a perfect, peaceful night...

Not much else to say...

Another one...

And another one...

Just about done now, the sand starting to look black...

We were spending all our time looking up... glancing down was like a river bed with smoothed stones deposited all along in the sand...

One last view...  Drift wood all down the beach, and a few stragglers still enjoying the sunset.  It was a pretty awesome night, and the last one of our week long journey around the island.

All that was left was the long journey home.  We straddled the west coast with Southern Alps just inland to us.  This was a picture before we went through Hasst Pass, one of only three passes that goes through the mountains.

We didn't take many pictures in the mountains that day, because we had a 9 hour drive to get back home to start work the next day.  But we did get this one as we came out the other side approaching Wanaka.  It was such a great trip.  Thanks for following along!  Cole has recently just taken several trips up to the Haast Pass region and was out on the glaciers.  Rebecca and I will be heading up there next weekend actually, so you will see what it is like through there soon enough!

It was great trip, over too quick...  Next up on the "catch up blogging" the adventures with our Moms and my brother who traveled down in our Fall.

Whiting Christmas: Part 5 - Pancake Rocks

We enjoyed two or three days around Nelson before heading back South down the west coast.  We did spend a little time downtown before we went.

Christ Church downtown had pretty nice grounds and their decorations up.

Found Cole's next birthday present!  Sshhh, don't tell him...  :)

A few hours drive and we were on the coast again.  This is near Punakaiki north of Greymouth. This was our first exposure to the strong waves off the Tasman Sea, other than very briefly in Doubtful Sound.  The wind stream comes from the west battering this coast with waves.

Much stronger waves than we typically see off the southern shore...

The weather reminded us of Southland though.  We were hit by a lot of rain and wind on and off that day.  Luckily it serves to keep things green and the flowers blooming here as well.

The birds were enjoying the rocks, but I wouldn't want to be out there!

Long drive for the day finally over, we arrived at the Pancake Rocks!

I don't know how they formed, but the rocks eroded into these nice stacked "pancake" formations.

The rocks were situated right on the coast, and the walking paths were up on the cliffs giving us a little elevation above the water.  There were eroded rock walls out in the sea a little off the coast.  Sooner or later the whole area will probably look like this...

We were mostly looking at the rock formations, but when we looked inland we could really see what all the rain has been nourishing.  A few more palm trees up north.

Lots of cool formations.  Large striated stacks of "pancakes."

In the distance, large eroded structures.  They look like they are just barely supporting their own weight.

Rough seas.  Steady drum beat of waves.  A surfers dream.

In the middle of the park was this large open pool that communicated with the sea.  Strong waves were able to crash into the area.  We were over to Pip and Sid's house last night for dinner and they told us an interesting story about this area.  Those of you lucky enough to have met them know that Sid used to be an undercover police officer in this part of the country years ago.  He actually was involved with a helicopter rescue of someone who fell into this pool.  "Please don't cross the barrier!"

I posted a clip on YouTube.  You can see why you wouldn't want to fall in.

The other side of the pool had a cool little outlet to the ocean with a nice bridge over it.

The water churned away below, and every once and a while the timing would be just right and a large wave would rush all the way down the trench.

These big waves led to another natural phenomenon.  You can see the small cave in the bottom of the picture.  When a big wave came, it rushed into the cave and was forced upward through a shaft and out a blowhole.  You can see the tiny exit chimney of the the blowhole on the upper left.

It took forever, but I got a picture of the eruption!

The formations reminded me of ancient fossils, like a large dinosaur's rib bones sticking out of the ground. 

More deep pools.  We almost couldn't see down into this one.  Every once and a while a wave would burst up from beneath and form small streams down the rock walls.

More staggered formations...

Out to sea, the waves made temporary pools and waterfalls in the rocks.

Another doomed spire in the surf.  Can't last much longer.

A gloomy day but very beautiful in its own way.

The flax was still red, but already turning.  Too cold on the coast I guess.

Next stop, one last amazing sunset and then back to work!