Nelson

Mike and Dorren are such good hosts that it almost felt like coming home when we arrived in Nelson. Their house is from another world, or at least, from a country homes magazine, through vineyards and macadamias ( more of that later), perched on top of a hill with extensive views to the mountains across the Tasman Bay. Add to this, trampolines, swimming pool, hot tub, gym, tennis, horses, cows, ducks and dogs- and a delightful son, Finn: aged 18 and imminently heading off to Uni.
So we didn't have to wander far to have a lovely weekend, dog walking, coffee drinking, wine tasting, jet skiing and water skiing.
But all of this had to be earned and we were soon put to work as woofers on the macadamia nut production line. De husking, cracking then finding multiple ( but as yet not exhausted ) ways of eating them.
Monday morning and the workers were off to work whilst the woofers( sorry should explain: "workers on organic farms") prised themselves out of bed , hardly able to move after the previous day's battering being dragged behind a jet ski in the vague semblance of sport). Various coffees later we found ourselves at the top of the Takaka hill dangling off a via ferrata. Quite sporty and obviously airy, and all for an unbelievable $10 each!! I love a bargain.
The weather was holding so we carried on north to Farewell spit and Wharariki beach. This beach is beyond the back end of nowhere but boy does it deliver! A beautiful forest walk through a deafening chattering choir of cicadas opens onto dunes and a huge beach with crashing waves and arched islands that are like sculptures in the sea. Throw in a few caves, cute seal pups and the beautiful last of the day light casting long shadows and it was a quasi- religious experience. Stunned into silence. Almost.
We stayed at the nearby campsite, so were able to do a second take the following morning and it was almost as good. If you come to New Zealand you must come to this beach. It's a long way, correct. It is definitely worth it!
The rain caught up with us as we raced across the base of Farewell Spit and another Wild West coast beach that stretches away beyound the horizon, and we made our way back to Motueka- another blast of memory lane as we lived here for a few months in 2005Read more