Labrynth Rocks and one lane bridges! Oh, dill pickles.

This is the last episode of our trip. We went to Labrynth Rock Park and the Grove in Takaka. This park is the best know example of karst geology in the southern hemisphere. You can easily spend an hour getting lost in these rocks. What is so cool is that folks bring toys and things to place in and on the rocks. It's nice that the management at this park appreciate the humor in this and don't remove these "artifacts" (unlike the Highway Department in Austin removing the Christmas decorations on Hwy. 360)

Heart-shaped lichen on this tree - how cute!

This sheep was across from the car park. I think this guy needs to be shaved!

Yet another one.

This was on a hike in the Grove

My turn!

Ernie saying goodbye at the Grove

The following photos can't help but put a smile on your face.

The other interesting thing on this trip were the one lane bridges. While these were not new to us (encountered them on previous trips here), we never crossed so many in a single trip. We crossed 40 one lane bridges. Ernie has pointed out that we really crossed 20 bridges twice - once going and once coming back. Yes even one lane bridges on the gravel roads!

Last but not least. I've talked about different kinds of food in the stores and some of the items we have not been able to find - dill pickles being one of them. Well, we went to the grocery store in Nelson and found dill pickles. Only they are not called dill pickles - they are called Sour Sweet Gherkins. Go figure!

Wharariki Beach

This trip started out because of a Grab-One offer for a 4-wheel drive trip to the lighthouse on Farewell Spit. We left Blenheim on Thursday and were scheduled for the tour on Saturday. We found out late Friday that the trip was cancelled because the lagoon was flood and we couldn't get across to the spit. Disappointed yes but we pushed on because there were still a lot of things to do in the Golden Bay area (http://www.goldenbaynz.co.nz/).

We drove out to Wharariki Beach. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, a lot of points of interest in New Zealand are only reached by hiking in. This beach was no different. The drive to the car park was on unpaved road for a good portion (another common thing here). The signage said the walk to the beach was about 30 minutes. We started up the hill (with Ernie commenting that everything is always uphill) and came to the first stile on the trek. After crossing that, we followed the narrow path on the side of the very high hill and noted that it was just us and the sheep. Crossed another stile and were now on the side of the hills facing the dunes and the beach. Of course that now meant that we were walking in sand - not the hard packed sand one finds near the water but the loose sand like on sand dunes thus making walking harder. We tramped our way up the hill and we finally awarded with a view of the beach and the sand dunes. It was amazing. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story:

Gravel roads

A fresh Ernie at the first stile.

Narrow path on a high hill - a slip would have been dangerous!

Just us and the sheep!

I hate soft sand!

Did I say that I hate soft sand - and steep hills!

Our first view of the ocean and the beach

That's a rock in the water and what appears to be rocks in the center and right side of the photo are actually sand dunes.

More sand dunes

Not exactly a friendly looking sea!

A great silhouette of Ernie!

Little birdie feet in the sand

Ernie doesn't look so fresh at the end of the trek to the beach and walking the beach for a while. Unfortunately, we still have to walk back to the car park. So sorry Ernie!

Waikoropupu Springs and Wainui Falls

Takaka is a great little town with a lot to do. We went to Pupu Springs (that's what the locals call it). It so reminds me of Barton Springs in that this is spring fed. The difference is that it is fed by 8 underground springs and there is no swimming allowed.

This is one of the springs bubbling up!

After seeing the springs, we went on to hike the trail to Wainui Falls. We were told that because of the recent rain, the falls would be really great and the trails would be dry. So, off we went. We were told about the suspension bridge we would have to cross and Ernie was a bit concerned but agreed to take the hike and try the bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge won. Ernie got on the bridge, felt it bounce up and down and sway left and right and immediately got off and said he would wait for me on that side. Check out the pics below:

 Halfway on the hike, the trail suddenly disappeared and we had to climb over these rocks to continue on the trail

This is the dreaded suspension bridge

 Needless to say, Ernie stayed back to take a picture of me and wait for my return.

Wainui Falls and yes it was worth it!

 The trip back was definitely easier than going over. I counted 71 steps to get across the bridge.

This was the dry trail.

That's all for now. Next episode tomorrow. Have a good night everyone!