Kiwis and Fairy Bread

22 and 23 December 2023 The words of this Jackson Brown tune (the theme of my 1987 tour of Europe with childhood friend Sue) came to me often as we took two days to make our way to our Christmas destination, Akaroa. An hours drive out of Marahua and the scenery changed again. Suddenly it looked like we were in the American Old West. A wide, shallow, rambling river with occasional homesteads and cattle ranches in a valley between blonde hills. We stopped in a one horse town called Muriston, had a coffee, and explored the four shops. We loved… Read more

21 December 2023 Although the smallest national park in New Zealand, Able Tasman is certainly one of the most popular. With many kilometers of trails through the rain forest and several pristine beaches, there is much to see and do. And we crammed much of it into one day. Camping at the Marahua Holiday Park was a smart move. An office across the street handles shopping, camping, information and tours. We had pre-booked a combination 8K hike through the park on a trail and a guided kayak tour returning on the sea. But getting to the start point of the whole… Read more