Nelson to Banks Peninsula

The last two weeks, I have been travelling on the east coast with Laurianne, whom I met on my first stop in Nelson.

We started our trip going to Marlborough Sounds where we climbed to Mt Stokes summit, the highest point in the sounds, and where I lost another another tyre. It was quite windy up there, and the clouds were right at the altitude of the summit.

 

Tip: a poncho is NOT wind proof!

After 2 more nights on Queen Charlotte Drive, we drove to Kaikoura where we saw shitloads of seals. I did not do any seal / dolphin swimming so I will have to do it somewhere else and go back there.

After a few days in Kaikoura waiting for the weather to improve, I finally went up Mt Fyffe. I almost cancelled twice on my way up there because of a shitty gravel road, and because of the clouds. The first part was right under them, so the view was not appealing at all. However, I am glad I continued, pierced the clouds and had an awesome view until the clouds cleared out. Perfect timing in the end.

4hours of walking / 1460m of climbing / peak at 1603m

We spent the next days in Hanmer Springs but did not do anything. I will definitely have to go back for some walks and the hot springs when it is a bit snowy (the scenery is a bit burnt at the moment).

After Hanmer Springs, we drove to Christchurch where we stopped for a night before going to Banks Peninsula the day after.

Before reaching Akaroa, and its awesome “tourist drive” around the edges of the volcano, we walked on the sign of the packhorse track. Nice walk explanined below.

The weather was then not really great until we left Akaroa to Christchurch where I will leave Laurianne tomorrow so she can reach Taupo for her work.

Akaroa is also a place I will have to go back to when it is a bit more greenish and snowy.

I will continue west to Mt Sommers and Arthur Pass for probably 3 very good walks. I need to check the weather later.