29th June 2026 at 16:52 - Damian
It's been a while. Three months in fact. We've taken the van for a hoon up to Uretiti DOC campsite for a couple of nights. On the way we stopped off at Mangawhai for a toasted sandwich and a 9km walk along the cliffs.
19th March 2026 at 15:15 - Damian
Done! We've just arrived back home in Auckland after just short of seven weeks on the road with Ally and John.
6744km all up and mostly staying at DOC campsites with us in the van and Ally and John in their tent.
We had a luxurious three-night stay in Hahei at the bach just before heading home and it was nice to wind down with all the mod-cons such as showers and flush toilets.
It was wonderful to show the country off to visitors and to see everything afresh through their eyes. We're very fortunate.
We were 100% solar powered over the seven weeks and didn't empty the LPG cylinder.
16th March 2026 at 07:51 - Damian
We've spent the last two nights at Totara Flat DOC campsite near Thames and yesterday walked up The Pinnacles. Perfect weather once again.
12th March 2026 at 09:01 - Damian
On Monday we drove to Castle Point from our base in Mt Holdsworth. Beautiful as usual.
12th March 2026 at 08:57 - Damian
Kerosene Creek near Rotorua. So nice bathing in hot water after weeks of chilly sea and river dips!
11th March 2026 at 21:25 - Damian
A duck with a very dirty beak stole a drink of my wine so I've had to filter the grass, dirt and duck slobber out of it. Interesting terroir.
6th March 2026 at 20:04 - Damian
We think it may have been caused by this steel rule which was found on the road amidst the debris of the delaminated tyre.
6th March 2026 at 17:08 - Damian
We had a rapid, unplanned tyre delamination at 100km/h near Nelson. What John calls "type 2 fun... fun after the fact".
After picking up the debris on the highway and a bit of a struggle with seized wheel nuts we managed to replace it with the spare.
5th March 2026 at 19:53 - Damian
Day 4 and the end of the Abel Tasman. Done! What a beautiful walk. We had excellent weather every day and the whole track is stunning.
Finished with a couple of pints at The Park Cafe and a huge burger and ice cream cookie at The Fat Tui.
5th March 2026 at 19:46 - Damian
Day 3 of the Abel Tasman. Bark Bay to Anchorage. There's a long low tide crossing that saves around 3km walk but it wasn't until later in the day so we went the long way around. Stopped for a dip in Cleopatra's Pool.
5th March 2026 at 19:27 - Damian
Day 2 of the Abel Tasman. From Awaroa to Bark Bay. Stopped at the lodge in Awaroa for posh coffee first thing in the morning, nicked some sugar sachets and carried on to the lovely Bark Bay.
2nd March 2026 at 18:54 - Damian
Day 1 of the Abel Tasman starting at Totaranui and staying at Awaroa Bay hut.
2nd March 2026 at 08:51 - Damian
I've been waiting a year to try Scotty's Baguettes in Marahau. Did not disappoint with the big breakfast. Handmade baguettes, too.
2nd March 2026 at 08:30 - Damian
After Mt Cook (almost a week ago!) we drove to Rangiora to stay with Matt and Lyndal where we had a good old catch up with extended family and did a load of well-overdue washing.
From there we drove to Pelorus Bridge stopping for a puncture repair in Amberley and a dolphin experience for Ally and John in Kaikoura. Spotted a HUGE pod of dolphins to the south of Kaikoura -- literally hundreds.
Two nights in Pelorus. Mussels in Havelock.
Early start on Saturday morning to get to parkrun in Nelson. After shopping for the Abel Tasman, a chilly dip at the Riuwaka Resurgence and a night at a POP in Riwaka.
Last night after picking Lynda up from the airport we had dinner with Viv and Brent in Marahau. Lynda, Ally and John stayed in a cabin at the campground.
24th February 2026 at 21:28 - Damian
John and I hiked up to Mt Oliver via Mueller Hut this morning. Six hours return including breaks. 1186m climb.
Perfect day for it with some incredible views. Also some bonus avalanches over on the flanks of Mt Sefton.
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