This day we decided to drive from Nelson up past the Abel Tasman National Park to Golden Bay - we were told this was a hidden paradise.
Not far out of Motueka driving up the Takaka Hill, we found a pull over - time to check out this view.
Above is the view back to Nelson and Tasman Bay
overlooking the stunning Riwaka River Valley
and the Kahurangi National Park
Our next stop was to check out the views from Hawke's Lookout.
Along its walkway are dramatic rock formations (limestone) which look like small scaled models of mountain ranges without trees.
There are also "sink holes" in various places
The walk was quite musical - the Tui birds were in excellent tune this day.
Hawke's Lookout is 624 mts. above sea level
in the Kahurangi National Park
and fortunately for us the Southern Rata trees were in full bloom
Back in the car - the road winds really some more up to 791 mts.
We pull over on the grand scale descent down this road
a lone hang glider surveying this beautiful valley
So peaceful
and stunning mountains and valley.
We stopped in Takaka at the information centre, and chose to make our next stop at Pupu Springs.
It is reported that these Springs have the world's clearest water
and it is also one of the largest in the world
Have never seen any as clear and clean as this before
nor as cold!!
They are spiritual to the Maori people
A delightful walk through this park with it's fabulous springs
Next - we drove out to Golden Bay near Pohara
Clear water again
This is very popular for retirees and holiday bach's (houses)
Stopped at "The Penguin" for a really great late lunch
Next - off to check out the Abel Tasman Memorial
This dutch explorer anchored in this bay in 1642
and after a bloody encounter with the local Maori when a party from his ship tried to go ashore, he named it Moordnaar's Bay (Murderer's Bay)
In 1770 James Cook included the bay as part of Blind Bay, but upon his second voyage to the bay in 1773 realised that it was in fact the location of Murderer's Bay.
Abel Janszoon Tasman's Memorial
*****
THE WOW MUSEUM
World of Wearable Art & Classic Cars
Well it was another lovely sunny day, so we decided to start with the WOW Museum on the outskirts of Nelson this morning. We had a long look around the "World of Wearable Art" Museum first - incredible costumes made from absolutely anything - it was stunning - but NO photos allowed.
We then moved onto their Classical Cars Gallery - just magnificent.
These are just a few of this Museum's outstanding collection.
After a couple of hours at the WOW,
we decided to drive north to Mapua
for lunch at the The Apple Shed Cafe
Our views from inside the Cafe
The kids were having a top day
while we had a really super lunch -
Fresh Whitebait omelettes followed by apple fritters with superb ginger ice cream (the Kiwis really produce some incredible ice creams) accompanied by a nice glass of "Marlborough" of course.
Another really great day!
