4th Update

Hello again!
We’ve been busy, seeing lots of sights.
On the west coast of the south island, we saw the “Pancake Rocks” which were very unusual. We waited for high tide, when there were “blow holes” that the water would come spouting out of- but we didn’t catch the tide just right. We could hear it building though, with large BOOMS of the waves echoing on the rocks below. They haven’t figured out yet what exactly makes the rocks layer themselves like this.


Then back in Christchurch for a day, we took in their incredibly large & free city botanical gardens, right in the middle of town. It had a river running through it that you could take a gondola boat ride on, and tons of walkways & bridges to all sorts of gardens. Many 100+ year old trees, from all over the world, each labeled with their type & where they came from. The air in the park was so filled with flower aroma, I wish I could have bottled it up & shipped it home! Here is us in the main Rose Garden.


We then drove to the north tip of the south island, the Abel Tasman area. We found a great beach to sit on & do nothing for a day! Pohara Beach, Takaka, Golden Bay. Many thanks to all who said they were sending blue skies our way- we got it! We watched the tide go out, gathered pretty shells, and sunburned the skin. It was cool to say that we were in the Tasman Sea! We even cooked up bacon on the beach for BLTs, and topped it off with chocolate cake & champagne~ what a day on the beach!







What I think was one of our finest days yet, we spent sea kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds, at the north tip of the South Island. We both took to sea kayaking like a fish in water, and loved it!! We are already planning to change a few things around on the North Island itinerary to fit in more sea kayaking!










No dolphins or penguins, but plenty of friendly ducks & other cool kayak mates from Germany & Wales, and a local Kiwi.
Instead of doing an over-night trip on kayak, we hope to do that on the North Island where it is reported to be warmer, nicer weather. Therefore we went ahead & boarded the ferry to the North Island a few days earlier than planned. Incredible ride over the open water where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean- got some great sunset shots.

Thanks for checking in! More to come. Hope all is well with everyone. Be sure to email us or leave comments here. Love to all!
L&E