Nelson to Golden Bay
Contrary to most recommended tourist routes, we continued westward from Nelson driving along, what is classed as, one of the Top Ten NZ Roads to Collingwood, the route taking us through rich fertile valleys & climbing over the rugged beauty of the Takaka Hills.
The first stage of the drive hugs the coast, passing vast orchards, hop gardens & vineyards, farm shops, micro breweries & ice cream shops. However once we'd passed through Motueka the climb in earnest began.
The Takaka Valley highways climbs & the road twists & turns to the summit, the views across the countryside never failed to impress, hardly surprising that this area had featured in the film, Lord of the Rings.
The summit car park offered views across & down to Nelson & the Cook Strait, whilst strewn about in surrounding fields were an odd collection of weirdly shaped stones, a bit like the limestone pavements in the Yorkshire Dales but without the 'pavement' bit.
The descent from the heights into the fertile Takaka Valley was equally impressive, sweeping hair-pin bends, dramatic vistas, plus the added bonus of hardly any traffic.
The valley is home to yet more dairy farms, & once again these are on an industrial level. Outside milking barns, or sheds as they are known, long snaking lines of cows walking slowly along to the daily milking, fields of maize & round irrigation pods keeping the pastures lush & green.
The road hugged the banks of Takaka River eventually bringing us to the only town on the drive, Takaka. The small town has an air of the pixie dust come Glastonbury, seeming to be populated by brightly dressed 'hippies', backpackers & then, farmers.
We drove on through the town, relieved to have seen at least one petrol station, passing the famous microbrewery come pub Mussel Inn.
The evening's night stop was Golden bay Holiday Park, accessed via a long, narrow lane, but boy what an overnighter!
The site was by no means at full capacity & so we were able to park as close to the sandy beach as was possible, with only a few hardy shrubs & bushes between us and the bay.
So there we sat, on a balmy evening, sipping a rather delicious local Pinot Noir, tucking into a Greek Salad made with NZ olives, watching the sun slowly sink into the Cook Strait.
Today's mileage = 60 miles
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