Drive from Motueka over Takaka Hill (New Zealands 6th most dangerous road(there was lots of subsidence)) to Pohara on Golden Bay in Abel Tasman on a wonderful sunny day.We are overtaken by a motorcyclist on the descent to Takaka who cuts it very fine.
With Music Soundtrack.
This video is a small part of our 8 week trip around both North & South Islands of New Zealand.
Starting in Auckland we rode the Kiwi Rail "Northern Explorer" to Wellington then crossed the Cook Strait to Picton.Most of these videos are in real time.
South Island :-
We picked up the hired campervan & drove to Kaikoura [ Ссылка ] where we went whale watching and saw a sperm whale.We then drove further along the Pacific coast and out to the extinct volcanos that form the Banks peninsula to beautiful Akaroa [ Ссылка ] .Then on over Arthers Pass [ Ссылка ] (stopping at Castle hill) to Hokitika, where we had a gorgeous sunset.From Hokitika we went on to Franz Josef glacier [ Ссылка ] and walked the trail to the glacier [ Ссылка ] .From Franz Josef we went to lake Matheson [ Ссылка ] taking in the circular walk around the lake,some great views.Then on along the coast via Bruce Bay(good stop for a coffee from the mobile cafe) [ Ссылка ] and on to Haast turning inland up the Haast river & Gorge, some great views all along the river with lots of waterfalls to stop at.We took in the Thunder Creek Falls & Fantail Falls [ Ссылка ] .
Then on to Lake Wanaka & Lake Hawea both beautiful views & great for photos.Then on to Wanaka town.From Wanaka we drove over the Crown Range to Arrowtown ,unfortunately the video of the descent from the top of the range somehow got corrupted(we will just have to go again).There are some good walks from Arrowtown.We did the Sawpit Gully Walk,the Anniversary Walk [ Ссылка ] & Tobin's Track.
After Arrowtown we drove to Queenstown [ Ссылка ] and along lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy then back to Queenstown and south along the other arm of Lake Wakatipu to Kingston [ Ссылка ] had planned to go to Milford Sound from here but due to the road being washed away due to storms(and people stranded) our plans had to change so we switched our itinerary & drove south to the Catlins [ Ссылка ] , stopping at Surat Bay then on to the Matai Falls [ Ссылка ] & the McLean Falls [ Ссылка ] , passing by Curio Bay and walking out to Slope Point the most southerly point of mainland South Island.Invercargill next and west along the coast to Riverton, stopping at Colac Bay & Gemstone Beach then on to Te Anau [ Ссылка ] road to Milford Sound was now open for organised Coach convoys(we booked for the 2nd day it was open), a great day with good weather for Milford [ Ссылка ] .Leaving te Anau [ Ссылка ] we headed for Twizel via Queenstown [ Ссылка ] where there are dark skies for star gazing.From twizel we continued on to Mount Cook where we walked to Kea Point(a short walk) [ Ссылка ] and the longer 11km Hooker Valley Track to the glacier lake below Mount Cook [ Ссылка ].
Leaving Mount Cook passing lake Tekapo and on to Rakaia Gorge [ Ссылка ] then on to Castle Hill [ Ссылка ] and over Arthurs Pass to Greymouth this time.Then north up the coast,stopping at Pancake Rocks [ Ссылка ] and then north on the coast road [ Ссылка ] before entering the Buller Gorge [ Ссылка ], stopping overnight in Murchison.The next day we drove on to Motueka [ Ссылка ] staying for a couple of nights and walked along the coast by the sandspit.Following this we drove over Takaka Hill (up to 10 min wait in the traffic lights) where there is lots of road slippage, to Pohara on Golden Bay.We walked a track to Wainui falls and also visited Labrynth Rocks.Back over Takaka Hill to Marahau on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park to walk some of the Abel Tasman Coast Track and also a trip to Split Apple Rock.Leaving Marahou we had our first rainy day heading for Havelock,we stopped at Pelorus Bridge where we had on a previous trip canoed the river.The next day we drove the scenic route along the coast to Picton & on to the Ferry for North Island. To be Continued .....
Sections
00:00:00 Leaving Motueka
00:00:24 Takaka Hill
00:10:25 Driving down to Takaka
00:19:40 Dangerous overtaking by motor cyclist
00:23:19 Upper Takaka
00:24:16 The Shoe Fence
00:40:04 Road Sign Man
00:52:17 Butterfly
00:52:32 Pohara
