After breakfast we packed our tent and drove about 10km down a gravel track to a remote camping area. We didn't intend to stay for the night but the campsite gaves us access to a number of lovely river walks.
The road down to the camp took us across a small ford, along a wooden bridge and through various gates that Christine had to open.
We set off through the forest and the track led us to the river. The river at this time of year was small but fast flowing, though you could see that the river was huge at other times. A sign said we must cross the river as the track was on the otherside. However, there was no bridge. We were faced with taking our shoes off, rolling up our trousers and wading through or .. jumping across from rock to rock. We opted for the stepping stone option as the water was freezing and coming straight sown from the snow covered mountains. Our first crossing of the stream went well but we kept finding the track ending and stream crossings were needed again. Second time we crossed on a huge tree trunk, third time we tried to make a bridge and Christine got soaked (tee hee ..) and on our final crossing, we almost got stuck standing on a rock in the middle!
The walk led us along the river and through a pretty forest but we turned back early as it got harder and harder to cross the stream. We ate lunch back at the car before driving towards Oamaru.
On the journey we stopped at a glided base in Otematata to watch a glide being launched. We stopped again to see the Takiroa Maouri paintings and to visit a cute little church. Finally, we arrived in Oameru.
Oameru was a fantastic spot. It had a wonderfully preserved Victorian street, with one store selling ... Marmite and chips favoured fudge. There was another wacky warehouse full of rusting old trains made into gunships and other weird sculptures! A lovely Marina, a penguin viewing area ... a great town. We walked along the harbour wall watching the local fisherman checking out the boats. We saw a colony (hundreds) of birds but didn't recognise the species.
5 minutes down the road was another beach where yellow eyed penguin come ashore each evening. We made our way there and first spotted seals on the beach before a lone penguin arrived just before dark. We took lots of photos!
Time to find a spot for the night, so we headed to a DOC campsite with a wonderfully soft grassy area to pitch the tent...
The road down to the camp took us across a small ford, along a wooden bridge and through various gates that Christine had to open.
We set off through the forest and the track led us to the river. The river at this time of year was small but fast flowing, though you could see that the river was huge at other times. A sign said we must cross the river as the track was on the otherside. However, there was no bridge. We were faced with taking our shoes off, rolling up our trousers and wading through or .. jumping across from rock to rock. We opted for the stepping stone option as the water was freezing and coming straight sown from the snow covered mountains. Our first crossing of the stream went well but we kept finding the track ending and stream crossings were needed again. Second time we crossed on a huge tree trunk, third time we tried to make a bridge and Christine got soaked (tee hee ..) and on our final crossing, we almost got stuck standing on a rock in the middle!
The walk led us along the river and through a pretty forest but we turned back early as it got harder and harder to cross the stream. We ate lunch back at the car before driving towards Oamaru.
On the journey we stopped at a glided base in Otematata to watch a glide being launched. We stopped again to see the Takiroa Maouri paintings and to visit a cute little church. Finally, we arrived in Oameru.
Oameru was a fantastic spot. It had a wonderfully preserved Victorian street, with one store selling ... Marmite and chips favoured fudge. There was another wacky warehouse full of rusting old trains made into gunships and other weird sculptures! A lovely Marina, a penguin viewing area ... a great town. We walked along the harbour wall watching the local fisherman checking out the boats. We saw a colony (hundreds) of birds but didn't recognise the species.
5 minutes down the road was another beach where yellow eyed penguin come ashore each evening. We made our way there and first spotted seals on the beach before a lone penguin arrived just before dark. We took lots of photos!
Time to find a spot for the night, so we headed to a DOC campsite with a wonderfully soft grassy area to pitch the tent...
