[Curio Bay, New Zealand] Wow what a day! We set off for Nugget Point around 10:30 after enlisting the help of some Poms and Germans from the camp next door to give us a push (the van got a tiny bit stuck in the mud getting out of our secluded site).

Nugget point was lovely. A tiny little lighthouse perched on some cliffs at the end of a bluff with seals cavorting in the rock pools far below. The DoC had also put up some thoughtful information plaques which had been written in the form of poems. Very different.

Then we were off to Cannibal bay. A nice bay with soft sand and a solitary sea lion basking in the sun that had finally come out. He was encircled by half a dozen tourists all taking photos. We did not stay for long, backtracking up the dirt road, back to the main road, heading for Owaka for fuel and milk.

In Owaka we found Teapot Land. Someone had collected a huge number of teapots and arranged them all in their garden facing the main road. It was slightly bizarre, but we were happy to donate a dollar and take a picture of this unexpected quirkiness.

After Owaka we hit Jacks Bay and after a quick bite to eat (chip sandwiches) in the car park looking out at the beach, we took the 20minute hike up to the blow-hole. Jacks blow-hole is 200m inland, 55m deep, 144m long, 68m wide and other dimensions as well. It wasn’t really much to look at, but Simon really enjoyed himself.

By now, the usually chilly weather had turned positively hot and when we got back to the beach, the water actually looked enticing. There were a couple of kids body boarding in it so how bad could it be? It was freezing! Sim got in as far as his knees, I only stuck a toe in. Hardcore Kiwis, they seem to be immune.

Back onto the scenic highway, we called into Purakaunui Falls which was nice but not too impressive, and passed loads more scenic coves and bays as well as the obligatory sheep of which there are gazillions of. In Papatowai we visited the Lost Gypsy Gallery.

What an absolutely brilliant little spot. An old bus and a back yard full of creative mechanical/electrical ‘artwork’. It was the best ten dollars we have spent thus far. Fabulous. My fave was the simple hand wound whale out front. Sims was the bizarre keyboard hooked up to all manner of odd things from electric toothbrushes to doorbells.

We debated calling in at Cathedral caves, but since you can only walk thought he cave at low tide (2 hours later) I decided to move on.

We reached our campsite at Curio bay at around 5. An amazing spot. Its high up on a bluff overlooking the sea. The individual camp spots are hacked out of the vegetation and we have found ourselves a nice little one with a view of the sea with waves that crash onto a rock outcrop below. What a view. It’s on a bit of a slope, but Sim is determined to figure out a way to get the van level.

It has been a long day, but it was still not over. After dinner we popped down the road to the petrified forest which also happens to be the spot where a small colony of yellow eyed penguins nest. We watched a couple of them come ashore and spend ages pruning themselves before waddling and hopping across the rocks to their hillside nests to feed their kids.

We have spent a good part of the day on dirt roads (we have been on lots). They are in good condition, but everything in the van including us is feeling a tad dusty. Cell signal is also pretty patchy. We are starting to recognize some of the other tourists along the way. It’s hard to get off the tourist trail when there are not that many roads to choose from.

[Sim: BTW. I got the van perfectly level with a ditch made by wheel-spinnig and a rock under another wheel]

[Pictures: The stunning view from Nugget point lighthouse. Peering into Jack’s Blowhole. Techno-Gypsy bits and bobs. Scared trees. Spot the penguin]

Couple clips from the Gypsy Gallery

– Posted from my iPhone via 3G