16-17 Nov 2017
On Thursday morning Jess and I drove from Queenstown 200km south to Riverton in Southland; another beautiful NZ drive with green fields and mountain backdrops. Claire & Andy Brinsley have a great “bach” in this little coastal town.
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| Riverton |
Claire & Andy had of course gone ahead of us to open up the house (ever the perfect hosts!) and after lunch on the deck we drove up the hill for a walk in Howells Point Reserve. The privately maintained path begins in dense woodland with chirruping birds, and then drops down to the sea with amazing views of Stewart Island in the distance. Next stop Antarctica, and definitely the furthest South we have ever been.
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| Howells Point, with Stewart Island on horizon |
We stopped off at pub in Riverton on the way back for the obligatory jug of Speights beer, overlooking the estuary with the array of little fishing huts for catching whitebait, and then home for a relaxed supper.
Friday morning fun included a jog for me, a swim in the sea for Jess (!) and then I tasted my first ever “cheese roll”, also known locally as Southland sushi! Out for our final Brinsley guided tour, along the coast to Colac Bay, and then the picturesque Cozy Nook.
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| Cozy Nook |
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| Wind-sculpted Macrocarpa |
Then, sadly, we had to bid farewell to Claire & Andy and drive up to Gore. What an incredible four days catching up with them and so touched that they took the time off work to entertain us. BIG thank you!!
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| Claire, Chris, Jess & Andy (Stewart Island behind) |
Just about keeping up - and really enjoying (vicariously|) your adventures. There's a vacancy next Tuesday if you're between continents ;)
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