hiking – Page 2 – Away From Home NZ

Cave Stream

April 16, 2025 by awayfromhomenz

We left our park in Cass quite early the next morning which is unusual for us. We decided to head to the lookout of Arthur’s Pass because we were so close, and then come back out east again.

The terrain here is very steep and incredibly shingly. I am sure these peaks must lose some of their altitude each year when the snow melt washes some of it away.

We stopped at the lookout over the half tunnel which protects the main road from falling rocks. There are usually kea here which Bruce was already starting to moan about, (but I was secretly hoping they would be there), but not today.

We had to do the obligatory stop at the Otira Hotel. I would have to say it needs a bit of tender loving care. The scones with butter and jam were just as before, but some of the antiquities look neglected.

We started to wend our way back east but stopped in along the way for a look at Lake Lyndon. Although the wind was getting up a bit it was still lovely.

Further on from there, just before Castle Hill we came across a sign for Cave Stream and decided to call in for a look. Once again, it is run by DOC and there was a lovely carpark area and nice paths.

Cave Stream is also a limestone area and the views are wonderful.

The stream runs beneath steep limestone banks, and at the lookout there is no sign of a cave at all – just a little wooden gate with a steep, narrow muddy track leading down to the stream at the bottom. Of course we just had to have a look. It was a careful walk downwards. A steep drop on one side and a narrow and slippery track increased the nervous tension. Part way down the track we could see the cave, and it became apparent that Cave Stream has that name because the stream runs through the cave, and we would have to walk through the stream to get to the cave! We were not wearing tramping shoes so realised that probably wouldn’t be a good idea for us. I slipped at one stage so it wasn’t long after that we decided to head back.

It was a bit disappointing, but we have to be sensible occasionally. We took it slow and easy coming back up, with a few stops for me to catch my breath, but it still felt good.

This time we headed towards Ashburton – a frequent stop over for us and a safe place to wait out the coming storm.

Castle Hill

April 15, 2025 by awayfromhomenz

Castle Hill is about 98 kilometres from Christchurch, off Arthur’s Pass. The drive is scenic, first with the rolling farmland outside Christchurch, and the further away from Christchurch we got the more dramatic the scenery became with mountain peaks in the distance.

What I did not expect from Castle Hill Rocks, was how well it was set up for tourists. It was a weekend day, in the school holidays, and a beautiful day as well, so there were visitors a plenty.

Castle Hill Rocks is managed by the Department of Conservation and it is a precious site to local Maori. Both parties are actively working to restore native plants to the area, such as the Castle Hill buttercup, which has become quite rare.

Even though this site is in the middle of the mountains, it was reportedly once the sea bed over 300 million years ago which, through the shifting of tectonic plates and faultlines, has been thrust skywards. The rocks are towering blocks of limestone in all shapes and sizes, fashioned into these shapes by rain, wind and, long ago, by the sea.

Bruce and I had a wonderful time wandering around these monoliths. I also enjoyed the seeing the number of young people who came here to practice their climbing skills. They lugged their padded falling mats up here with them. We came across a couple of girls who found the climbing a bit tough, so were using their mat as a picnic blanket!

We wandered around for quite some time, and didn’t really notice how high we had come. Our motorhome is down there somewhere.

When it came time to go down, the area we were in only had the narrowest of tracks and it looked a bit precarious. I am fearful of falling and breaking a hip so elected to slide down on my bum. That was a lot of fun – the grass was slippery so I was able to get up a bit of speed. I only hope no-one was watching this crazy 70 year old sliding down the hill on her butt. When I got to my stopping point, near a more substantial track, I looked back to see Bruce still working his way down on all fours, and going backwards, looking a bit like a crab.

You can see the way the land was thrust up at an angle in the photo above.

Once back at the motorhome we headed back on the Arthur’s Pass road, and headed into the alpine Castle Hill Village. This was a well set up little village of mountain style cottages. Presumably people come to stay here for the hiking and skiing. A charming little place.

Our stop for the night was at a Park Over Property at Cass. This was really a collection of a couple of old railway cottages no longer required by the railway. We found that “happy hour” here was compulsory, and it was quite pleasant. It was a surprise to see that a couple who arrived after us where from our NZMCA area, and Coromandel town in particular – we knew each other!.

We had a peaceful night, and an early start the next morning trying to get sunrise photos on the mountains.

Mt Terako

April 5, 2025 by awayfromhomenz

It was a cloudy day, but not raining, when we left Kaikoura, headed inland towards Mt Terako. We stopped just outside of Kaikoura for a coffee and to give the dogs a good walk before the drive inland.

The area we were driving in to is called the Inland Kaikoura Range. The road was predictably, windy and seemed to go up hill forever, and I was glad it was Bruce’s driving day. Before we got to the steep stuff though, we were treated to beautiful hill country farm views. Some of the farm houses out here were quite substantial as I guess they had to be because they would be cut off by snow in the winter. Some of the houses were absolute showpieces.

We even came across the TUX dog trials which we stopped to watch for a minute.

As we got further inland the landscape was notable for its very steep drops down to gravelly rivers, and erosion was evident everywhere, especially on Mt Terako itself.

It seems that the “Roar” was in progress because we came across a large deer enclosure that seemed to be full of “bulls” who had recently had their antlers removed. It didn’t stop them roaring to each other though. The dogs weren’t at all sure what to make of the noise.

We finally got to the Mt Lyford Lodge, which is the second largest log house in the southern hemisphere. We thought we might stay there a night, but it didn’t suit them as they had been without electricity all day. We were joined in the carpark by a fellow group of travellers, some of whom had also come from Beach Hop. They had really fancy cars – corvettes and AC Cobras, but because of the electricity issue, they also decided to move on.

Just down the road, about 8 kilometres on, was the Terako Downs Park Over Property, and we pulled in there for the night. The place was quirky to say the least but the birdsong was out of this world. I thought I had been spoilt at home when I had a chorus of 2 bellbirds, but it could not compare to a whole hillside of them, plus some tuis adding some harmony. It made me remember the song that my sister and I used to sing when we were younger _ so ring your bell bellbirds you’re calling me back home, to my home up in the mountains, no more I will roam, for there will be contentment, and my heart will be at ease, at home up in the mountains, close on the mountain breeze. (Hope I have remembered it correctly)

The camp had a little foxy, that Beau was quite friendly with, but little did Beau know that while he wasn’t watching, the foxy stole his bone!. The camp also bordered on the Wandle River, and supposedly, there was a swimming hole, and as it was a hot day we had to go and investigate. No swimming hole could be found, but Bruce had a great time trying to build rock fjords (and getting his feet wet) trying to get to the other side. It was just as well he didn’t because a short time later, some of the young men staying at the camp went across to the paddock on the other side to test their rifle sights, as they planned to head out for a four day deer hunt tomorrow. The very loud shots had Hunter in his customary state of shivery, shaky, panting mess but fortunately it wasn’t prolonged and peace was restored not long after.

Judy’s 70th Celebrations

March 13, 2025 by awayfromhomenz

I am sure that no-one likes to admit that they are getting older, but I figured if I had to turn 70, I would do it with enthusiasm and style. I actually turned 70 on the Tuesday and was given breakfast in bed by my man, given cuddles by my dogs, and then we set off for an adventure.

Otara Bay

We had been told about Otara Bay by Bruce’s daughter and her partner Justin, so we decided to go and have a look for ourselves. Access to this beach is off Sailor’s Grave Beach and it was an easy drive to the parking lot there. We donned our tramping shoes and grabbed the camera and some drinking water and set off.

The path was not well maintained like the ones on Shakespear Cliff and at times we were pushing through grass higher than ourselves

The first view of the bay was beautiful, and worth all the huffing and puffing up the steep incline.

We were all alone on this beach. There were the occasional footprints on the beach, but they were clearly from a while ago as the waves had obliterated some of them.

It wasn’t until we were here that Bruce told me that this was supposed to be a great swimming beach. Well, we did not have our swimsuits, and as we were the only ones there, there was a logical solution – skinny dipping. I was a skinny dipping virgin so what better day to try it out than on my 70th!

After a bit of relaxing and drying off, we hiked back to the car (more huffing and puffing) and headed into Tairua for a late lunch.

Bruce spoiled me with a lovely dinner that night, and I had a lot of phone calls from family and friends to round out the day, and then to start thinking about the big party on Saturday which was being put on by my youngest son Steven and his wife Stacey.

We packed up the motorhome and headed off to Hamilton on Friday. We wanted to arrive in plenty of time to help Steve with the set up, and also because my three siblings were coming over for it, so it was a good time to finally interring Dad’s ashes. Dad’s only remaining sister Phyl and her husband Ross were there also which made it a bit more special.

While we were there we also went and said hello to Mum.

Unfortunately, the weather was showery for a lot of the day so there was a lot of work setting up the marquee for the party, but it somehow made for a nice atmosphere at the party. There were about 40 of us, plus children, but Steve’s place was an ideal venue, and we did not feel cramped.

It was so lovely being surrounded by friends and family. Three out of my four children were there.