Wai-iti Domain - Freedom Camping

Not far south from Nelson (about 30kms) along SH6 is a small settlement named Wai-iti. And just before the Wai-iti Bridge if you turn left, you'll find yourself at a roadside picnic area. It's a decent size spot with several large totara trees and a couple of kahikateas offering plenty of shade.

A little further along is the Wai-iti Domain/Reserve. Although there's oodles of room it might be unsuitable for bigger rigs as the left hand bend is a little tight, and there's a few over hanging branches as you approach.

The Wai-iti Domain/Reserve is a massive area with mature trees bordering the perimeter. It's dog friendly and kids will like the large, flat area to ride their bikes or to kick a ball around. There are toilets and rubbish bins and it's free to stay!

Behind the reserve is a forest walk, which loops back to the start. 

The walk begins by climbing a gentle incline that hugs the side of the hill. After about half an hour (less if your fit, or longer, if like me, you're a bit of a stroller!) you reach the top. 

Being autumn - it was the season for toadstools.

It's an easy walk, the track is wide and covered in pine needles, plus there's birdsong to enjoy. With no 1080 poisoning to worry about, dogs are safe off lead to run around and explore. 

After awhile, Oakly started to look for water. We came across a forestry water supply but seeing the colour of it, I decided being thirsty was a better option than to drink from it!

All up, the walk took about an hour and a half, which included taking a wrong turn. We ended up at a forestry skid site, which wasn't a complete waste of time as it had a fabulous view. 

At the end of the walk we wandered over to the Wai-iti River (Wai-iti = low water). And true to its name, the river was shallow. In the warmer months it's been known to have toxic algae, however after recent floods it was safe for the dogs to cool off and have a well deserved drink.

First Overnighter

I decided to have the first night away in our 'new' bus not too far from home. Bernie was working so it was just me and the dogs.

After looking at the NZMCA app and reading posts in various Face book groups, I chose to go to a DOC campsite near St Arnaud - Teetotal Camp. First, and most importantly it was dog-friendly,  with several walks right beside the camp. Secondly, we hadn't been away overnight in this particular bus, I thought if I ran into trouble, I was only an hour from home.

We (Oakly, Boo and I) arrived just after midday on a hot summer's day. Only one other camper was there so choosing a spot to park was easy. I decided on an area beside some trees for some shade for the dogs.

As I mentioned, one of the reasons I picked Teetotal Camp was due to reading some Facebook posts. One post had shown photos of dogs in a river and with that thought in mind Oakly, Boo and I set off for a walk. Usually I don't walk the dogs during the day in summer as I'm mindful of how hot it can get for them. However they were itching to get out to explore and I figured they could cool down once we got to the river.

After walking for more than half an hour there was still no sign of a river. I thought of turning back, the dogs were hot and seeking shade to rest. However, I thought if we turned back they'd have to walk another half hour or more and still wouldn't get to cool down in the river. But, how far away was this river?

After some toing and froing, I decided to keep going, hoping the river wouldn't be too much further. Oakly is 13 now and in the last 12 months has started slowing up. Nowadays he likes to stop every few metres to smell everything in sight, so it was a slow walk.. 

In the distance I heard some dogs barking and when they appeared, along with their owner, I asked how far ahead the river was. She told me there wasn't a river ahead. Fortunately she lived in the area and suggested rather than returning on the same track, we follow a less trodden path. She knew the area well and explained the shorter route. So off we went.

Oakly handled the return-walk surprisingly well ... it was Boo who struggled, so I had to carry her some of the way. I felt awful having them out walking in this heat.

It was great to eventually see the campsite! 

And, after a nice, big drink of water we lay down to rest.

The dogs signal when they're ready for dinner - I never need to check my watch. It's alwaysbetween 4 and 5pm. When they indicated they were hungry, they ate in the shade and not long after were napping again.

I had a rough idea how to turn the inverter on so I could turn Netspeed on, but when I tried it didn't work. Normally, this is when I'd see if Bernie knew how. However, he wasn't there so I had to figure it out myself. I know it's not rocket science but the set up in this bus was different than our previous set-up. However I'm pleased to say, I figured it out!  Then I celebrated a successful day with a movie and wine.

Later that evening I messaged my Facebook friend to ask where the river was that she'd posted while staying at Teetotal. I laughed when I read her reply. Turns out, when she stayed there they took a day trip to Nelson and stopped at the Motueka River to give their dogs a swim. When posting photos of their time at Teetotal she'd included the Motueka River photos. LOL.

Wow, we could have walked for hours and not found a river! Thank goodness we stumbled across that local lady walking her dogs!

A taste of Japan in Nelson

When Bernie and I entered Miyazu Garden we walked beneath cascades of purple flowering wisteria, draping from an archway of pergolas. Woody vines twisted and twined up and around the pergola's posts and a heavenly, musky fragrance wafted about. 
Spring was definitely in the air!

Nearby, grassy mounds which had been planted in Japanese cherry trees, were now smothered in blossom. With my camera in hand, I made a beeline to them.

There are about 50 cities and towns in New Zealand that have a sister city somewhere around the world. The idea came from the former US President, Dwight Eisenhower. He hoped by developing positive international relationships between people it would lessen the chance of future world conflicts.

Nelson's sister city is Miyazu, which is a city in the north of Kyoto Prefecture on the main island of Honshu (Japan). Miyazu and Nelson share some similar features, such as fishing, tourism, beautiful beaches and a natural beauty. Miyazu has a long sandbar across its bay called the Amanohashidate, which is comparable to Nelson's boulder bank.

43 years ago, Nelson begun its connection with Miyazu. One of many initiatives to celebrate the relationship with Nelson's sister city was creating a serene Japanese style garden. Throughout the garden are New Zealand and Japanese plants growing beside each other, symbolising the harmonising of both cultures. 

Pictured below is a magnificent 30 year old, weathered bonsai named 'Jim's Pine'.

You can't help but get a sense of peace and tranquillity as you follow the little paths branching off in different directions. 

Every year in September, Miyazu Garden hosts the 'Cherry Blossom Festival' where people come to enjoy the blossoming cherry trees and celebrate the relationship that Nelson has with its sister city.

Stepping stones and wooden bridges cross reflective ponds.

Dotted about the garden are places to sit, to soak up the tranquil surroundings.

There's also grassy areas to stretch out and relax, either in the shade or sun. Some folk were enjoying a family picnic, others were lying in the sun and another person I spotted swung from a hammock hanging beneath a tree.
And the best bit of all (for us) ... it's dog friendly.

Boo

Oakly

Roaming & Relaxing at Rarangi

Sometimes a certain place just feels right. And for me, Rarangi is one of those places. It's only a 10 minute drive from where we're staying at Spring Creek, so the dogs and I set off to explore.
At the northern end of Rarangi, there's a parking area where two separate walks begin. One is the 'Rarangi -Whites Bay Track,' which has to be walked both ways unless transport is arranged. The track goes over the hill into Whites Bay and takes about an hour one way (dogs aren't allowed on this walk).  
The other option is a short 20 minute return walk that goes around and over the rocky point into Monkey Bay, this one is dog-friendly! I decided to explore Monkey Bay first and then wander along Rarangi's foreshore.

I love the stairway and its rocky wall.

The views over Cloudy Bay are fantastic. In the distance you can see the Wither Hills with snow capped mountains behind.

Aren't the patterns on the foreshore awesome?

At the top is an area offering views of the North Island and information boards explaining the way the sea currents have formed Rarangi Beach over thousands of years.

If you look at the photo below you'll notice some mountains in the background - that's the North Island.

Amazing, it looks so close.

After reading the information boards, we wandered down the path to Monkey Bay. I noticed a sweet, fragrance and it wasn't long before I discovered the source.

Wild freesias! The air smelt heavenly.

Monkey Bay is a small cove, tucked amongst high rocky walls. There's a little cave, which fills with sea water at high tide and while I was there I could hear the water thrashing against the rocks. Apparently in 1928 a local resident tried to excavate this sea cave thinking a tunnel could be made to connect Rarangi to Whites Bay.

Monkey Bay's shoreline is tiny and when the conditions are right, it's a nice place for a swim. But, when I was there - that wasn't the case!

A creative visitor before us, left a little piece of their imagination. A rocky bird's nest!

After the dogs had checked out and smelt every inch of the area, we walked back up the path and down the steps to Rarangi.

In the photo below, not far from the steps to Monkey Bay, is Rarangi's dog-friendly campground, which is managed by DOC. If you plan on staying there with your dog, you'll need a permit, which can be organised by contacting the local council. When we stayed, I got a permit for our two dogs online, it was pretty straight forward. Or you can email them (the council) or phone. Click 'here' if you want to read more information on the campground.

I love Rarangi's Beach. It's windswept and rugged. Isolated and boisterous. But today, without any wind, it appeared calmer. Fortunately it still had that solitary feeling. It was just me and my dogs. Bliss.

It wasn't long before the dogs, Oakly and Boo, had their noses pinned to the ground. They'd picked up the scent of a rabbit. And to make their day even better they flushed it out from hiding and began a chase (a fruitless chase). I actually think the rabbit played with them, knowing it had some hopeless pursuers. In between bursts of speed and zigzagging here, there and everywhere, it headed in my direction. The little ball of fluff, was only metres away from me, before it changed course to seek refuge among some tree stumps.

I waited for a while, letting the dogs believe they'd find the rabbit again. I knew they wouldn't, or at least I hoped they wouldn't!

And when they realised they'd exhausted their efforts, they were happy to continue walking further along the beach.

Although I've never seen anyone make these driftwood huts, I always enjoy seeing them. 

Last time Bernie and I visited Rarangi, we stayed at the DOC campground for a couple of nights. It was in November and the foreshore was smothered in masses of wildflowers. Click 'here' to see that blog. It was spectacular. 
However, this time the wildflowers weren't en masse (I was two months early), but I did notice other plants in the area. They weren't all in clumps, some were weathering the environment alone, while others had company. 
I think, plants that grow in these harsh conditions deserve a medal. I love spending time examining them. Some are teeny tiny, others bright and bold. At first glance some may seem like an ordinary flower, nothing outstanding, but when you take time to really look closely at them, they're exquisite.

Even the common foliage of the Ice plant also known as Pig Face deserves a second glance.

From a distance, I spotted an area of bright colour amongst the sand dunes, it turned out to be heaps of these lime-green coastal plants.

As mentioned above, when I had the time to explore, all sorts of vegetation seemed to pop up. But, it's not always plants that are noteworthy - at the beginning of this year, in January, a female elephant seal was seen on the beach. Now that would have been an interesting find!
Rarangi's beach environment also hosts the rare stone moth and mat daisy jumper, both of these insects can only be found at Rarangi. 
Katipo spiders also reside among the sand dunes, however as much as I searched the only insect I saw was this magpie moth. Magpie moths are native to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. Something unusual I learnt about these insects, is when they're at the caterpillar stage, they are able to freeze themselves to survive!

A special spot with million dollar views.

Rarangi in Maori means 'the place where the sun rises'. The area was originally subdivided in 1920 for settlement and is now home to just over 500 residents. 

By mid-afternoon, the sea began changing colour and the clouds darkened above. It was time to head back to the bus. 

We'd had a great time exploring but like the old proverb says, 'All good things must come to an end'. The dogs were ready for a drink of fresh water, followed by a snooze in the sun.

I'll finish this blog post with a photo of someones artwork I found on Rarangi's beach. I think it sums up our day perfectly.