NZ: Hammer Springs to Rakaia

We traveled south from Hammer Springs to Rakaia.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with a grocery stop marked:

A nice shower at the Hanmer Springs Top 10:

Shower

Back over the one lane Waiau Ferry Bridge:

One lane bridge

Waiau Uwha River:

Waiau Uwha River

Hills:

Hills

Morning coffee and snack at Red Post Cafe in Culverden:

Second breakfast at Red Post Cafe

Second breakfast at Red Post Cafe

Second breakfast at Red Post Cafe

Interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

We stopped for groceries at Woolworths in Amberley. It was nice to be able to load groceries directly into the van:

Loading groceries directly into the van

Fanfare sculpture in Christchurch:

Fanfare sculpture

Arriving at Rakaia River Holiday Park:

Rakaia River Holiday Park

They had a TARDIS by the office:

TARDIS

Campground map:

Campground map

Outdoor kitchen:

Outdoor kitchen

Indoor kitchen:

Indoor kitchen

Shower:

Shower

We headed out again to go into town; the iconic Rakaia salmon sculpture:

Rakaia salmon sculpture

We got dinner from Rakaia Takeaways:

Rakaia Takeaways

Rakaia Takeaways

Takeaways

Rakaia buildings:

Rakaia buildings

Rakaia buildings

We opened some Christmas crackers:

Christmas crackers

And had mini pavlovas for dessert:

Mini pavlovas

NZ: Murchison to Hammer Springs

We continued south from Murchison to Hammer Springs.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

We used the campground kitchen to make breakfast, since we felt like having toast, but didn’t have a toaster in the van:

Campground kitchen

A caravan / trailer chicken coop out the front of the campground:

Caravan chicken coop

We stopped at RD Petroleum to fill up:

Fuel stop

Matakitaki River:

Matakitaki River

Maruia Falls:

Maruia Falls

Maruia Falls

Maruia Falls

“Feel the warmth of Buller”:

Feel the warmth of Buller

Mountains

An unusual one way bridge, with a traffic light, no doubt due to being too long and curved to see if anyone is coming the other way:

One way bridge with a traffic light

Maruia River:

Maruia River

Picnic lunch at Lewis Park Scenic Reserve:

Picnic lunch at Lewis Park Scenic Reserve

A helicopter and concrete mixer doing construction:

Helicopter and concrete mixer doing construction

Hope River:

Hope River

Hope River

Waiau River:

Waiau River

Looking back at the bridge we just crossed, the Waiau Ferry Bridge of 1887:

Looking back at the bridge we just crossed

Hanmer Springs:

Hanmer Springs

We were a little early to check in to our campground, so decided to visit Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools first, and another private pool (not as nice as the one in Rotorua, and the front desk staff were a bit clueless; book online to save hassle):

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools

Then we checked in to Hanmer Springs Top 10:

Hanmer Springs Top 10

Hanmer Springs Top 10

Our first sighting of another McRent camper (we later saw many more; they seemed to be more common the further south we went):

Another McRent camper

Our site:

Our site

Our towels were still damp from the pool, so we hung them on the clothesline (you can see our site in the background):

Hanging our towels on the clothesline

Later, we walked to Fire & Ice for dinner:

Fire & Ice for dinner

Fire & Ice for dinner

Fire & Ice for dinner

NZ: Collingwood to Murchison

We traveled south from Collingwood to Murchison.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

A sunny morning view from our site:

Sunny morning

A seagull on the skylight:

Seagull on the skylight

Leaving Collingwood:

Leaving Collingwood

Since it was rainy when we visited Te Waikoropupu Springs the previous day, we decided to stop by again on the way past; very glad we did, as it was much more clear without rain:

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Takaka mural:

Takaka mural

Old farmhouse:

Ruins

Takaka valley:

Takaka valley

Weka:

Weka

Interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

Hawkes Lookout track and viewpoint:

Takaka Hill viewpoint

Takaka Hill viewpoint

Takaka Hill viewpoint

Takaka Hill viewpoint

Suspension bridge:

Suspension bridge

Kohatu Flat Rock Cafe for lunch:

Flat Rock Cafe

Flat Rock Cafe

Flat Rock Cafe

Snow-capped mountains:

Snow-capped mountains

Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre:

Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre

Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre

Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre

The very iconic Lake Rotoiti Jetty:

Lake Rotoiti Jetty

Lake Rotoiti Jetty

Eels:

Eels

Lake Rotoiti Jetty

Arriving at Murchison Motorhome Park:

Murchison Motorhome Park

Buller River below the campground:

Buller River below the campground

Our site:

Our site

NZ: Nelson to Collingwood

We traveled northwest from Nelson to Collingwood.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

I like campgrounds that have separate rooms for each bathroom:

Bathrooms

Free shower with timer:

Free shower with timer

Heading out in the rain:

Heading out in the rain

Dumping waste tanks on the way out:

Dumping waste tanks

Motueka valley:

Motueka valley

Roadworks, with time to green light:

Roadworks, with time to green light

Roadworks

Curvy road:

Curvy road

Curvy road

Nikau Cafe for lunch:

Nikau Cafe for lunch

Nikau Cafe for lunch

Interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

Interesting rocks

Abel Tasman Monument:

Abel Tasman Monument

Abel Tasman Monument

Labyrinth Rocks:

Labyrinth Rocks

Labyrinth Rocks

Labyrinth Rocks

Labyrinth Rocks

Labyrinth Rocks

Te Waikoropupu Springs:

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Welcome to Collingwood:

Welcome to Collingwood

Collingwood

Collingwood Holiday Park:

Collingwood Holiday Park

Collingwood Holiday Park

Our site:

Our site

Our site

We walked into town to get fish & chips takeaways from Collingwood Tavern:

Takeaways

Then took it back to our site, and enjoyed eating with a nice view:

Eating fish and chips at our site

NZ: Picton to Nelson

We traveled from Picton to Nelson.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

Vineyards:

Vineyards

One lane bridge:

One lane bridge

Cows:

Cows

Welcome to Nelson:

Welcome to Nelson

Maitai River:

Maitai River

Old Electricity Department building:

Electricity Department

Waterfront houses:

Waterfront houses

Beach Cafe for lunch:

Beach Cafe for lunch

Beach Cafe for lunch

Boardwalk to beach:

Boardwalk to beach

A walk on Tahunanui Beach:

Tahunanui Beach

Whakatu Marae:

Whakatu Marae

Miyazu Garden:

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

Miyazu Garden

We visited Jens Hansen Jeweler, makers of the One Ring from Lord of the Rings:

Jens Hansen Jeweler

Jens Hansen Jeweler

We checked in at Tahuna Beach Holiday Park:

Tahuna Beach Holiday Park

Tahuna Beach Holiday Park

Then pretty much immediately did some laundry:

Laundry

That evening, we went out to Nahm for dinner:

Nahm for dinner

Nahm for dinner

Our table was on the outdoor balcony, so we enjoyed watching a sailing school during dinner:

Watching sailing school during dinner

Back to our site:

Our site