Nelson to Golden Bay

Monday 2nd October 

YIPPEEEEE!!!! I've finally met up with Frances and Graeme! It finally feels real that I'm in New Zealand, as all my childhood memories of NZ include them! Frances is one of my parents best friends from uni and has been living in New Zealand for over 25 years now. Herself and Graeme live in Canterbury, further south, but have decided to take a wee holiday in Golden Bay since it's the summer holidays. They very kindly invited me along on their holiday to their friends batch (holiday home) in the bay of Islands. 

They picked me up from outside the hostel in Nelson and after big hugs we jumped in the yute and headed north , tiki touring (exploring slowly at your own time and stopping where you want) north towards Golden Bay.  

We stopped for breakfast at Mapua overlooking ththe harbour there and the recreational Rabbit Island. 

We got to our wee house for the next few days just outside of Collingwood, in the Golden Bay. Batches are usually small wee beach houses but this can sleep up to 8 people, two bedrooms and a box room, and it had a big living/kitchen/dining room. A very pleasant house with spectacular views! 

We chilled for a bit then headed out for a walk along the coast. The house has a small garden and that looks right out onto the beach; a big sandy beach at low tide and a calm sea at high tide. 

  

  

   

We reached the furthest north point in the South Island - Farewell Spit - but it was quite cold and a bit windy when we got there so we decided to head home for dinner. A quick pizza and a bottle of wine was a lovely easy meal to be able to catch up and chat over.