New Zealand trip Day 9 - north east to Motueka

It was our intention on this holiday to spend more time exploring places and less time driving between them. So we did not do a huge number of kilometres, and time on the road was at a leisurely pace, with lots of stops at distractions on the way. Day 9 was spent going between Murchison, (where we had spent the night at The Lazy Cow hostel - lots of lazy cow-related decor) and Motueka on the north coast, gateway to the Abel Tasman Park. Not that far, really, but we found a few things to look at on the way. This route was recommended by Adrian, a fellow guest at Hokitika, who is a New Zealander with lots of wilderness exploration under his belt.

State Highway 6 passes through the spectacular gorge of the Buller River and then on via very "wiggly" roads through the steep and scenic Kahurangi National Park area, eventually winding down to coastal farming areas.

There is bright broom everywhere

And yellow buttercups

This is the Hope River near Kawatiri. It is the site of a memorial display for the great railway project that was once hoped to be the miracle trade route linking the north with the south.

But there was not light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out. The final section of the link was never completed. Expense and technical difficulties overtook everything. This abandoned tunnel from 1923 bores through a steep hillside. Not every day you get to walk through a metaphor.

The Hope R saddle eventually leads to tiny Kohatu where we changed direction and headed due north via a narrow link road. In the cafe there we relaxed for a bit, took photos of a chaffinch,

had a coffee with a heart in it and wrote some postcards.

Descending to near sea level, we drove through rich farming districts. These are hops growing near Hinetai. Boutique breweries in this area.

Lots of roadside stalls selling produce from little farms. Those bushes behind the fence are the biggest feijoas I've ever seen. This fruit is native to S. America but NZ has adopted it and you see feijoa products everywhere. We bought feijoa and apricot jam.

These berry canes are in flower. This area must be amazing in summer.

Bird on the wire is another import - a Californian quail. NZ native quails went extinct within a few decades of these fellows being introduced.

Kiwi fruit - $2 per bag. Sign says: "To Honest People Thank You. To Disonest People Do Not Stop. To Unfinantial People Work Can Be Aranged for Payment"

They were fantastic. Too many for us to get through so we left some of them at the next hostel as freebies. The Swiss and German tourists hoovered them up.

Our hostel, Eden's Edge in Riwaka, near Motueka deserves a special mention. New buildings, purpose built on an old apple orchard property set among other fruit orchards, like this one growing kiwi fruit. Wonderful helpful hosts and fantastic facilities. So comfy we stayed an extra night.