Takaka

After the anticipated excitement of my climbing holiday in the Darrans, Kay and I had scheduled a bit of a relax up in Golden Bay. Meeting her at Nelson Airport, our first adventure was finding a place to stay. Kay had booked a backpackers, but they had stuffed up and cancelled her booking somehow. Fortunately they found a spare room at a nearby backpackers that was nice and comfy.

That night we strolled into town, did a little food shopping and had a yummy curry for dinner.

07 Jan 08

Keeping to the grand plan, we awoke in the wee small hours of the morning to catch our bus out to Pohara. The bus driver from Nelson to Motueka was a real character, though we seemed to be the only ones awake to enjoy his commentary.

Finally underway!

Crossing the Takaka hill, we arrived in Golden Bay to overcast skies and light drizzle. Bugger. Making our way out to Pohara, we turned up at Golden Bay Kayaks to be greeted by the owner Nigel with a awkward look on his face. Apparently the 7^th and 8^th were both unsuitable for Kayaking, both due to the rain and a mystery wind that was supposed to arrive.

Kay and I contemplated our options, which didn’t take long because we didn’t have many. Without a car or some sort of transport we were a bit stuck. In the end we agreed to Kayak on the 9^th and 10^th and planned to just chill out in Takaka for two days.. Lucky we brought a few books to read!!

“Now you lean that way…”

We managed to hitch a ride into town from the ‘Fuel Sharer Seat’ with an old Farmer dude. Staying first at the Kiwiana Backpackers then the Barefoot Backpackers, we spent our next two days reading, going to the cinema and checking out Takaka.