24th February 2025 at 14:39 - Damian

Some juvenile eels hiding under the concrete of the boat ramp in Lake Rotoiti in St Arnaud.

24th February 2025 at 13:55 - Damian

We arrived into our DOC campsite in St Arnaud to find our favourite bird waiting for us.

20th February 2025 at 12:51 - Damian

18th February 2025 at 10:51 - Damian

18th February 2025 at 10:18 - Damian

Marlborough Sounds kayak: Day 3 of 3 (original plan was 4 days but today's weather was poor so we turned day 3 into a long day to avoid it)

Perfect weather paddling from Camp Bay to Ratimera (19km) where we stopped for a brief lunch and then onwards to the end at Whatamango (10km) to get in a couple of hours before the rain started.

Had a cool encounter with a baby seal.

We really enjoyed this little kayaking jaunt. We cover about the same distance as tramping but with less effort.

16th February 2025 at 12:53 - Damian

16th February 2025 at 12:52 - Damian

Marlborough Sounds kayak: Day 2 of 4.

Choppy crossing from Blumine Island to Kenepuru Head but calm once we were sheltered by the land.

19km in 3.5 hours with a LOT of stopping for dolphins! See video.

Staying in Camp Bay DOC campsite tonight with lunch and dinner at Punga Cove. Which was nice.

15th February 2025 at 14:14 - Damian

Marlborough Sounds kayak. Day 1 of 4.

Early start from Whatamango DOC campsite with glassy waters. Tide was out so a long trek with the trolley to get to the water.

The Interislander passed us just before we crossed the channel. They move a lot faster than us so timing is important.

It only took 3 hours to paddle 20km to Blumine Island.

So far the mornings have been calm and the wind picks up in the afternoon which suits our natural schedule.

14th February 2025 at 13:17 - Damian

We have a new winner; Rays Place in Havelock. $6 for "two scoops".

14th February 2025 at 12:19 - Damian

13th February 2025 at 17:46 - Damian

Yesterday we paddled over to Lochmara Lodge. A 16km round trip. Glassy water on the way over in the morning but the wind picked up and it was a choppy (though thankfully tailwind) return in the afternoon.

Today we started earlier and did a 9km loop around The Grove and Anakiwa hugging the coastline. Saw a few beautiful stingrays including one that was having a good old time munching on something right on the shoreline of the camp. Lots of jellyfish, too.

13th February 2025 at 17:38 - Damian

Smooth sailing on Bluebridge on Tuesday.

We met up with George and Emily for toasted sandwiches in Picton before moving on to our DOC campsite in Momorangi where they joined us for the night.

It's a pretty decent campsite with hot showers for $1 and good access to a sheltered part of Queen Charlotte Sound.

We're here for three nights and taking the opportunity to poke around a bit in the kayak with a couple of easy day trips.

10th February 2025 at 11:03 - Damian

New favourite bakery: The Clareville Bakery near Carterton. We got an Angus Steak Cheese and Jalapeno each as well as a ciabatta.

10th February 2025 at 07:48 - Damian

10th February 2025 at 07:46 - Damian

9th February 2025 at 18:39 - Damian

Castlepoint. Fantastic geology and uncharacteristic warm sea breezes.

9th February 2025 at 12:39 - Damian

Homemade (vanmade?) Boston pizza in Woodville.

9th February 2025 at 06:38 - Damian

8th February 2025 at 20:06 - Damian

Castlepoint sounds nice for tomorrow. I always wanted to go there for the surf in another life.

8th February 2025 at 16:48 - Damian

Pretty cruisey drive to Hastings today. We were booked in for self-containment recertification here but had time to kill so visited the historic Otatara Pā site which was pretty interesting.

Post recertification (which went smoothly) we've come back to the Clifton Road Reserve where we first stayed back in 2021. It's a great location right on the beach alongside a cycleway with access to wineries and into Hastings town.