January 1999
1 Jan - Lunchat Bruce Bay on to Fox Glacier. was a bit disappointed in it. camped near £6. Met Girvan family 141 km
2 - very hot. Lake Matheson - Frank Josef Glacier was a little better. Lake Iathe for lunch through Ross, old gold town. Stayed basic Department of Conservation DOC site £2.60 166km
3 - Hokitika to Greysmouth for lunch. along coast to Pancake Rocks Blowholes. Impressive. Camped on beach £6 97 km
4 - still very hot, coast road north Cape Foulwind for coffee. Westport for lunch, saw a beautiful motorhome made like a boat. Through gorge to Lyell old gold working, DOC site £2.60 141 km
5 - Big sandfly region. Owen River camping £3
6-7 - Found great camping Tapawera Crossroads £5 Arthur the owner played accordion and took children in his tractor trailer. great fun. stayed another night, even had a bath. 64km
8 - coffee Motueka. Lunch Pupa Springs on to Poponga and Farewell Split. walked to green hill beach. £6 178 km
9 - Stayed another night. Pleasant company.
10 - Left 10 am, was a cool wind to Tukurua a main camping for NZ holidays £6 33km
11-12 - left 10 am. Twisty road, most campings full on to Marahau Old MCDonalds Farm camping. V.G. 5.30 126 km
13 - Cloudy. Shopping Motueka then on to beach site at Kina. toilet and caretaker. was a wet night. £2 34km
14 - Still raining to Kiwi Camp Mapua 6.80 big and spread out, nudists too. had a great fish cafe. 51 km.
15-16 - showering to Nelson Brook Valley camp £5 30km. Met Jim and Aileen at flea market.
17 - Into Nelson to cinema. "Private Ryan". Was a pleasant site £5
18 - very hot again. coffee Rai Valley, logging area. Paloris Bridge lunch. DOC site, night 4.40. Met couple from Canada & Hull - they offered to buy van at end of our trip
19 Jan - 3 nights Havelock camping 4.60 per night.
walked to glow worm caves
took mail boat out East side of sound, saw green lip mussel farm. Gannets and beautiful scenery. Well worth it.
22 - Picton beautiful region on to D.O.C site, 260
met up with couple we met Nelson, Jim and Aileen. Parked at their beautiful house Whatamango Bay. Met their neighbours for happy hour. Dusty went out fishing, caught a squid, had to through back.
27 - Ferry 5:30 am to Wellington to Eastbourne and Sharon Girvans & Steve Girvans. They were happier we slept in house and we fitted in so well, Matt, 3 years old, thought I was his granny. Sharon Girvans is secretary to Helen Clark, then leader of opposition, late Prime Minister. We took ferry across to Wellington and had tour of Parlimant house; we really relaxed there.
31 - Left north to Otaki beach camp £5