A long weekend with friends from Wellington has certainly put a spring in my step. I met Carla on a tramp in 2003 and she invited me to join her annual getaway trips where I met Gill and Julie. Great company, fab food and fun times at Taupo, Whakatane, Eastern Taranaki, Cape Campbell - and now Stewart Island. It was a full-on four days and the house is very quiet today. They made these wonderful screen-printed cushions for me - and brought packs loaded with lots of yummy goodies including fresh asparagus, chocolate, Vogels bread, cheeses, fruit and veges - I am so spoilt :)
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| Carla making a trunk call |
We talked from early morning to late evening, had a fab afternoon over on Ulva Island, explored the beaches and walks around Oban and met my Island friends/workmates. The Weather Gods blessed us with sunshine - just perfect!
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| Gill checking out kiwi footprints alongside the road |
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| Flowering native Clematis paniculata |
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| Male and female seals lazing on Sydney Cove at Ulva Island |
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| South Island Saddleback (Tieke) at Ulva Island |
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| A 2003-fledged Stewart Island robin (toutouwai) feeding on a mealworm |
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| Leaving Ulva Island at 4pm |
On Saturday afternoon we walked to M
āori Beach; about an hour's walk from the Lee Bay carpark. The track is Day 1 of the Rakiura Track 'Great Walk' and follows the coast with great views and beaches all the way to Port William.
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| The chain-link sculpture symbolising Maui's anchor rope |
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| Coastal views from the track |
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| The swingbridge at the western end of Māori Beach |
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View up river (haven't been able to find a name yet) from the bridge;
where's my kayak??? |
