At least this is what this Harrier is doing! - A nice bit of roadkill - yum, yum
Or you could eat your heart out at this brilliant cafe (yet another one - Paddlecrab cafe) at the very northernmost tip of South Island - amazing views of the sand spit and some great walks nearby with more gorgeous beaches and an endless variety of walks
The piccie below is the garden at our YHA at Takaka - great for relaxing and eating our evening meals
We did get to test out the rain gear on the first 2 days - (trousers and boots fine - jackets a bit damp by the end of the day). Now spending today washing muddy trousers and boots in the very north of the South Island (Takaka) in between 2 National Parks. The picture below is typical of the bush we walked through for 4 days but with open views of all the bays every turn and viewpoint. A must see for all NZ visitors - if only for a day cruise and short walk along the shores.
Met up with two lovely couples from Perth along the way - good company and a final Indian meal together to celebrate in Picton.
Great cafe - On the way to Picton we stopped at probably the best ever cafe (and we have checked out a few in our time!) - The Store at Kekerengu - great food, coffee, log fires, overlooking outstanding coastline, decking, great music, lovely garden - perfect place.
Looking for whales - too wet today for cruise, but promised better tomorrow - so internet and book and diary catch up time - and a rest for a couple of hours - jet lag is just about gone and sleeping past 4.30 am now!
Drove up to here from Christchurch via another great cafe at Cheviot (Two Rivers cafe and gallery for those folloing in our footsteps) and now at a brilliant YHA right on the beach overlooking mountains and sea.
View from our room:
Did our first supermarket shop and loaded borrowed coolbox and basket (thanks Sheila) - YHA usual efficient place - great kitchen with plenty of room for food with all utensils and cooking areas. Dining room and lounge overlooking sea and seats outside for pre meal drinks and nibbles. Who needs to go out ot expensive restaurants?
This photo shows part of the kitchen - there are green labels for all your bags/food to put the date of leaving on - there is also an area with free food that peoople have left and for you to leave when you no longer want stuff. The kitchen is kept spotless and everyone cleans up after themselves - unlike some backpacker hostels we used last time. A much more respectable class of people in YHAs!
