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Bulling Adventures - South Is
  • Trish Bulling
  • Neil Bulling

Bulling Adventures - South Is

Visiting Hokitika, Wilderness Trail, Golden Bay then picking up our new caravan Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 23, 2025
    Bulling Adventures - South Is
    Lake Wakatipu rainbowMakarora Chicken PieHaast RiverBruce BayPhotographing is dangerous workBully on a missionThe largest active landslide is up there ⬆️Love the colours in the bushTrying to be artisticLove walking in the bush

    Cromwell to Fox Glacier

    March 23 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    First day on our trip up the West Coast and fittingly it was pouring down when we left home and continued all day. After having a few months of extremely dry weather at home it was refreshing.
    Savoured the famous Makarora pies, loved driving through the bush, Haast Pass was torrential rain, Bruce Bay was wild, the big rocks are there because the surf gets so big it comes over the road and leaves debris.
    We did not stop at the many walk ways on the journey because it was a tad wet but we were on constant lookout for caravan parks that we will come back to in the future.
    Arrived at Fox Glacier about 3pm, set out for a walk on the Te Weheka Walkway, wore my tramping rain jacket which hasn’t see the light of day for a while but the weather was warm and the walk was beautiful. It led up to the largest active landslide in New Zealand, we couldn’t see it because of the weather but it didn’t really matter. You could see the weather was affecting the river as it was dirty and raging.
    Now off to dinner which is just around the corner.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is
    Franz Joseph Glacier
    Tree Top Walkway20m up on the Tree Top WalkwayNearly got dizzy climbing up the 47m towerLake Mahinapua from the towerHad to teach Neil how to take a selfie and get the background view 😆We passed on taking the zipline downImpressive walkway, plus birdsongThis was at the end of a cantilevered part of the walkway, moved quite a lotImpressive RimuBeautiful Rata flowersWilderness trail - Kapitea Reservoir overflowKapitea ReservoirWilderness Trail Board walkKapitea Reservoir

    Fox Glacier to Hokitika

    March 24 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Travelled 158km from Fox Glacier to Hokitika today. Started out at 8am, with the weather fine today. Stopped at Franz Joseph for a coffee then drove out to the see the glacier which has retreated an incredible amount since we last saw it many years ago.
    Farming on the West Coast looks like hard work, most houses in bad repair with some very good farms interspersed. Mostly dairy farming. In between plains with dairy farms were steep hills with windy roads.
    We crossed many rivers with some very impressive braided river plains. There has been a lot of flood protection work done.
    We enjoyed the Tree Top Walkway just out of Hokitika, views from the tall tower were impressive but we did not partake in the zip line back to the cafe/shop.
    After we booked into the motel we drove to Kumara and rode 20km on the Wilderness Trail, past the Kapitea Reservoir and onto the boardwalk. The weather was beautiful, 22 degrees.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is
    Wilderness Trail
    I love riding through the bushWater is so clearFixing my bikeAction shot of a kereruCowboy Paradise accommodationCowboy paradise was a once thriving communityMoral support from PaulArahura RiverLunch stopHurunui Jack'sHeavenThe steak was delicious coming off this outdoor fireHad my morning coffee gently swinging hereNow this is campingOur friendly Weka

    Wilderness Trail - Hurunui Jack’s

    Mar 25–27 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Our mission today was riding 53km on the Wilderness Trail. We got Cycle Journey’s to drop us off at just past where we got to yesterday, on the old Christchurch Road. The track has many different surfaces, bush tracks, gravel roads, gravel tracks, tar sealed roads. There was a lot of flat riding and hill climbing.
    I did have a mishap coming down a steep gradient bush track with a hairpin bend, come off my bike, not hurt but my bike handles ended up in the opposite direction with one cable snapped, consequently no battery. I rode to Cowboy paradise which thankfully was only about 2kms away where Neil proceeded to work his magic for an hour to join the wires up again, you can imagine my joy when I pushed the button and it went as we still had 30kms to go. A teacher previously from Te Anau and Invercargill, who knew a lot of people we knew, stopped and helped Neil, mainly moral support but, thank you Paul.
    Got back to Hokitika about 2pm after starting at 9:15am. An eventful ride!
    Then we headed out to Hurunui Jack’s which is part of the Canopy Camping group. No internet or cell phone coverage, heaven. Secluded in the bush but with everything we needed, what a glorious spot and I would recommend it to anyone. Had our own friendly Weka to keep us company. The outdoor bath was a highlight plus the bush walks, outdoor fire and excellent hosts. Fully equipped bathroom and kitchen and the cosiest glamping tent you could imagine.
    Neil got given a voucher from the girls for his 70th for Canopy Camping and we chose Hurunui Jack’s because it is situated right on the Wilderness Trail.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is
    PīwakawakaDriftwood sculptures on Hokitika beachSpying the plane trailsHurunui Jack'sHurunui Jack'sHurunui Jacks

    Hurunui Jack’s - Hokitika

    March 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We took full advantage of our beautiful spot to sleep in, enjoy the bird song and solitude. Wendy at Hurunui Jack’s roasts her own coffee called Fat Cat, delicious.
    In the afternoon we investigated Hokitika, the driftwood sculptures on the beach, fabulous cafe’s, many pounamu shops with stunning displays of greenstone jewellery. Pounamu represents connection to ancestors and the natural world. It’s often gifted on important occasions as a symbol of honour and respect, I certainly treasure my Toki that my family gifted me on my 65th birthday after Rachael led the blessing down by Lake Dunstan.

    The driftwood sculptures on the beach were so creative, in the afternoon we once again went back to our hideaway in the bush and relaxed, a simple meal cooked in our cabin with a wine sitting on the deck.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is
    Leaving Hurunui Jack's
    Views along the Coast were spectacular around every cornerPunakaiki Pancake RocksBlowhole that refused to play ball with usClever engineering on the roadBuller Gorge Swing BridgeMy view before setting off back across, managed to stop a few times and look!

    Hokitika to Pohara

    Mar 27–31 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We left Hurunui Jack’s with special memories and a wheelbarrow full of our gear to traverse the 100m of bush track to our truck. The fantails and weka came to say goodbye.
    We left at 8am to get an early start on our long trip to Pohara. The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks were a must stop, the waves were roaring and the blowhole blowing but unfortunately missed photographing the spray by about 10 seconds. Fantastic to see so many tourists there to enjoy the sight. The Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre was impressive, once again NZ giving tourists the best experience (and Kiwis).
    Buller Gorge Swing Bridge was another must do - found out I am not as brave as I used to be but got across and back without a panic attack. Made sure no one else was on it first though to make sure it wasn’t swinging too much. Bully was fine.
    Took us until 5pm to get to Pohara, the Takaka Hill is an experience all of its own. Very tired, looking forward to a few days in this gorgeous location right beside the beach.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is
    Wholesome Cafe - Takaka
    Wholesome Cafe - TakakaPohara waterfront walkPohara beachMolly B's Cafe - great coffee and kaiPohara Beach - Lone lady collecting seaweed at low tideWainui Falls - start of walkBen & Kylie's secret swimming holeSome steep drops but well protectedThere were a few steps along the wayWatch all the fantails catching bugsWainui FallsWainui Falls

    Pohara - Wainui Falls

    March 27 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We have loved our time in Pohara, will be sad to leave tomorrow, hopefully we will be back one day.
    We visited Wainui Falls today, 4km return walk. Track was great, would recommend it for everyone. Found Kylie & Ben’s favourite swimming hole, we saw many fantails and the falls were magnificent. It is very dry here at the moment so I can imagine they would be incredible after rain.
    Other highlights of our stay: Wholesome Cafe in Takaka, Molly B’s in Pohara, friendly locals, walking in the bush, native birds, the beautiful Pohara beach and the laid back atmosphere.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is

    The Grove & Te Waikoropupu Springs

    March 29 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Within a short distance from Pohara are Te Waikoropupu Springs, the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere and contain some of the clearest water ever measured. You get there through a boardwalk bush walk, you could clearly see where the springs emerge and the vegetation under the water. So many beautiful colours underwater.
    The Grove is a bush walk up to a platform overlooking the farm land leading out to the ocean. What was special about this walk was the limestone rock formations draped with tentacle like roots of northern rātā. I am also intrigued by the Nikau Palms which can grow to be massive here.
    Both these locations are a must visit if you head to Golden Bay.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is

    Pohara to Hanmer Springs

    Mar 31–Apr 1 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We were sad to leave Pohara but ready to get onto the next leg of our journey. Stopped at Maruia Springs on the way through the Lewis Pass. They were in the midst of adding on more accommodation. I never realised how big this hotel/spa was, they have little pods down by the river for people to stay in.
    Once settled in our motel in Hanmer we went for a walk then off to the pools which were divine. Dinner in our room, early night ready for the trip to Christchurch to pick up our carvan    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is

    Hanmer Springs to Christchurch/Geraldine

    April 1 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Once we got to Christchurch from Hanmer Springs we went to Briscoes/Mitre 10 and Burnsco to pick up bits and pieces we would need for the caravan.
    Arrived at CMG Campers at 1:30 and Callum gave us the 2 hour tutorial of the van, a lot to take in! Once we had a few adjustments done by the workshop team to make sure we were ready to tow we were off to Weedons NZMCA camp. We didn’t want to go too far until everything was used, checked out that it was working.
    Neil did well getting us out of Christchurch and into the camp without any dramas. Our neighbours at the camp were lovely when they found out we were newbies and offered tips and tricks.
    Left about 10 in the morning after double checking everything a few times to make sure it was ready to leave camp. A lot of things to remember but we will get the hang of it. Most important thing was that the bed was comfortable 😁
    Raining on the way to Geraldine but we stopped at a rest area and had lunch in the caravan, bit of novelty.
    Stopped at the Geraldine Top 10 Camp which has won a lot of awards. It was fantastic, hooked up to power, did our laundry, charged everything up. Kim/Paul & Rachael & Hamish came to visit and have burgers for tea in the caravan. Weather was cold and raining but we managed to fit around the table and have a good catch up.
    Next day we walked into Geraldine which took two minutes, saw Matteo at his work site at the College, he also came after school to check us out and make sure it was up to scratch, I think the van passed muster once he knew he could sleep in it when he comes to visit.
    Ronnie and Julie came for a drink and a chat, this time we could sit outside as the sun was shining.
    I have been really slack taking photos, will have to get better at that for my Find Penguins diary.    Read more

  • Bulling Adventures - South Is

    Geraldine -Lake Ruataniwha Freedom Camp

    Apr 4–6 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Once we had dusted off all the leaves from the Oak Tree that was beside us at the Geraldine camp we set sail to Lake Ruataniwha Freedom Camp.
    Yesterday we met Blake & Linda Greenfield at the Geraldine camp, Blake has travelled in caravans for many years so had great tips for us, we learnt a lot in a short time. Blake went to Menzies College, along with his older brothers Martin and Shane and younger sister Kim. It was them who suggested this camp set up on a ridge at the end of the lake. Lovely views of the Autumn colours.
    Had a bit of issue with getting the fridge going but I realised you must turn the gas on before putting the power on in the caravan to get it to work. One of many lessons to learn I am sure. The Chinese directions for the diesel heater aren’t that easy to follow either 🙃 thank goodness for Youtube so I could learn how to get the temperature changed!
    Neil trying his hand at catching a salmon (no joy) while I went for a walk and thought about sorting out the many brochures that are in the bottom drawer. Decided that was job for another day. Last photo on this post, poor old Neil, maybe we should invest in a broom! 😂
    Both nights at Lake Ruataniwha we had a great time with Blake & Lynda and another couple Walter and Yvonne who are from Rangiora, this caravaning life is very social 😁
    Home about 11am but couldn’t get down our driveway because our neighbour is putting in a concrete driveway and we are adding concrete down the side of the house so the van is over at Howard and Janet McArthur on the other side of the street until concrete all finished.
    All in all a wonderful 2 weeks, now to get planning for our big adventure to Britain, Ireland, France, Italy and Turkey starting 22 May!    Read more

    Trip end
    April 6, 2025
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