Sat 30 Jan - Tandem Biking

Went out really on a ride with Robin to buy some goodies for a cooked breakfast. (our kind friend Daniel has a Tandem bike) Then morning tea time with Lizette :

And lunch time with Abbie (who kindly returned to the fabric shop with me :) 

The kids went to a movie in the afternoon, then we found this cool statue/sculpture thing, called Family Tree:

It moves in the wind with quite fluid movement, its amazing to watch!

Fri 29 Jan - Best Discovery Ever!

Off from Motueka this morning, but not before buying a couch! And it was Robins idea this time (for those who know my couch buying habit! Lol), a fold out camping one, great investment. Then we discovered the coolest place ever this morning a bit by chance. Robin (the darling!) noticed the sewing /craft sign and thought I'd like to take a look... But we found so much more at "The Junction" in Richmond, Nelson.

The plastic free refillery:

A beautifully designed vege and meat store called Connings with a cafe in the middle of it!



The boys were darlings, came up to me ask excited and said they had found a great surprise and led me eyes covered into this place, then surrounded by a colour explosion of fabrics they let me open my eyes. Not sure if I was more delighted with the fabrics or the way the boys were so excited to surprise me.

Robin found his own haven full of cheeses and other weird things. They even did "cheese" cakes for weddings! Great savoury idea! To top it all off this is the base for She Sheds, these are so cool, I am keen to build one one day. This place has me wanting to move to Nelson! 

Spent second half of the day at Daniels where he and Robin fitted our WiFi aerial thingy. 

Thurs 28 Jan - Kaiteriteri Beach

Bit of laundry to do in Motueka, found a cool laundromat by a cute coffee cart. Museum next, special Anne Frank exhibit (great as we studied her not long ago).

Then off to picture perfect Kaiteriteri Beach. 

Day not complete without rock pool and cave exploration. 

I had the most amazing snooze in the sun! It was so perfect, not too hot, just right!

We'd 27 Jan - The Mail Boat, Pelourus Sounds

A cracker day in Havelock, perfect for the 10am-4pm trip on the mail boat. What a gloriously peaceful place. Can imagine staying in a house there one day for six months and writing a book or something! Quite isolating to live there long term. 

Meet a lovely lady on the boat who had lived there most her life. She was on her way to a family wedding.

Once the boat got going, you really had to hold onto your hat! I did a Jackie O impression with my sarong to cover my ears - cold sea breeze! 

Mussel farms

Matty loved following the map tracking all the bays and stops. 

the assistant on the boat passed boxes and mail bags out, collected mail, recycling etc, and always had a treat ready for any dogs that came to "help". They knew it too, very sweet. 

Quick dinner with our good friend Daniel Farley when we arrived in Nelson in the evening, before shooting through to Motueka where Mitre 10 kindly let us camp in their carpark. Great idea, as I bought something there in the morning.

Beautiful sunset on the way to Motueka! 

Tues Jan 26 - The big kayaking mission from Momorangi Bay

Time to get 3 kayaks and six Murray's in the water. Set of from Momorangi Bay, first landing : Aussie Bay. Then Groves Arm Jetty.

Drove round to Anakiwa Bay for a late lunch. Matt and Zach had a great time pulling mussels off the posts of the pier and Abbie enjoyed a bit of photography. 

The following pics are at:

Especially love this one of Zach, reminds me of pics I've seen of my Dad as a boy. 

Off to Havelock for the night, more stunning views on the way.

This one from :

Robin had fun photographing some birds in this panoramic picture 

Mon Jan 25 - Ngakuta Bay

Tested out one of the kayaks today at Ngakuta Bay (not far from Picton).

Amazing views on the way there. 

Matty made a special friend named Fred (a very small crab).

Back to Picton for one more night. 

Sun 24 Jan - Crossing over

First a stop in Welly for a mighty breakfast and games day (well half day), with Aunty Ange (this was her Chrissy Pressy voucher from the Hillbilly Murray whanau).

A smooth crossing on the Interislander. Highlights: Lizette Abbie and Donna caught a brief view of some dolphins 😁 and Matty won the colouring competition. 

Stopped the night in the carpark of a great tavern in Picton called The Crow. Zach taught the girls how to play darts, he did a good job, Abbie even got a bullseye! A lovely chap gave Matty coins for the Duke box, and he loved learning how to work that (and what one was!). Overall an amazing day, great to be finally in the South Island!