GREYMOUTH

 THURSDAY, 31st October.

A chat with our hostess Dani, when we checked in yesterday, revealed that she was born in Melbourne, lived in Shepparton for a time when young, met her Kiwi husband in USA and  now helps run the farm and the motel.  There are just 3 rooms in the motel, and is in the running for the top accommodation we've experienced on this trip.  

                                                          This morning's view

                   It was raining when we left and 9 degrees.  First stop 45 minutes later was in Reefton

where we walked up and down the main street which was very similar to country town main streets                                                                                    back home, 

                 with a very good selection of cafes, the one we chose was Steptoe's Coffee Emporium

Views of the Inangahua River and swing bridge

On then through farmlands and across rivers

Ahaura Bridge & river

and in to Greymouth, to the Harbour where there is a restored WWII Pillbox

A clocktower

We had a warming bowl of soup each at a cafe in the town before heading to our B&B in the suburbs, and later drove back into town for a hearty meal at The Speights Alehouse.

SPRINGS JUNCTION

WEDNESDAY, 30th October

Today was a travel day, with a few stops along the way.  We left the cottage at 9 o'clock, in the rain, temperature 9 degrees but in the distance we could see the sky was lightening so we felt encouraged, rightly so as in half an hour there was blue sky, though a few rain clouds still hung about and it was still a bit chilly.    

First stop was at the monument to Ernest Lord Rutherford of Nelson, considered to be father of the atom and who was born in Nelson, in a cottage where the monument now stands.

The next visit was to have been an Historic Village but it was closed so we continued on, enjoying the scenery.  

At 10.50a.m. we had sunshine and 5 minutes later we came to the Flat Rock Cafe at Kohatu, so stopped and had coffee and cake at an outside table, basking in the sun and admiring the view.

We continued on, the scenery was gorgeous all the way

including the 9 minute roadwork stoppage

and on seeing signs for the Hope Saddle Lookout, we detoured off the main road to look out, but there was just one gap in the greenery through which the view was visible.  There was a gazebo there which didn't seem to serve any purpose, other than to be photographed.

After another half hour's driving, we came to the Kawatiri Picnic Area

where there are the remains of an old railway bridge and a picnic table

Back on the road

and we arrived in Murchison, parked the car and went for a seniors' stroll along the main street

Another little detour took us to the Buller Gorge Swingbridge, New Zealand's longest swingbridge where for $12.50 per person, one can walk above the raging Buller River and walk the Loop Walk, except that today part of the walk was closed due to heavy rains rendering it too dangerous.  Also available there is jet boating, gold panning and a zip line...after a bit of umming and aahing, Mike paid his money and went across on the zip line!  Me?  I thought I was brave walking across the bridge and back again!

More driving, more scenery

The Maruia Falls are a 5 minute walk from the carpark off the main road

On the road again

and finally, the view from the deck of our motel room in Springs Junction