This is the second post about our two weeks in Golden Bay / Mohua. We drove up to Wharariki Beach at low tide. 🚙
We parked and followed the track through the bush for about 15 minutes before arriving at the beach. 🥾
The Archway Islands were putting on a show. 📸
The clearest tide pools I had ever seen and good wind for our kites. 🪁
Beautiful walk back to the carpark ...
... where we made a new friend. 🦚
We checked out Te Waikoropupu (aka Pupu) Springs which were the largest cold–water springs in the Southern Hemisphere with very clear water. They were also spiritually significant to Māori people. 💦
Since it was a new moon and we were staying outside of the town of Takaka, we did some stargazing. Hello again Southern Cross. ⭐️
We headed back to Tata Beach on a beautiful morning to rent a kayak. We got to meet Mac who herded all the kayaks into the water. 🐾
We enjoyed every minute. 🚣
Lunch at the off-the-grid Toto's Pizza was worth the trip. 🍕
Hello weka! 👋
Funny story about a weka from George Penney on social media:
A woman stops suddenly on a walk track and points excitedly at a brown bird. 'It's a KIWI!' Her friend laughs and says: 'Nope. Weka.' 'No, it's gotta be a kiwi!' 'Weka. Show it your sandwich and see.' Author's note: Wekas are beloved brown woodhens, notorious for stealing anything not nailed down. They are very very sneaky.
We left Toto's and drove over to Totaranui Beach which had over 200 campsites and a store. I could imagine the summer crowds. ⛺️
Another good stop was Wainui Falls. We started by saying hello to the cows in the paddock. 🐮
What?! Well, it was almost winter by Easter in the Southern Hemisphere. No, we didn't try it. 🤷♀️
