A short springtime tour

It’s a different world

This is the first time for about 20 years we have been in New Zealand in the springtime. In the past at this time of the year we have been enjoying the golden leaves of autumn in Europe. This year is different and we can only dream of travelling the amazing cycle routes of Europe. We needed to do something however so a road trip from our home near Auckland to the far south was in order. I have been blown away by the beautiful blossom the swathes of daffodils, the lambs which are galloping all over the fields of Southland and all the other signs of the world reborn.

As we return home we are stopping at Nelson for a five day cycle tour “The Great Tasman Taste Trail” It will be rather different for us. It is only 5 days long, we are hiring bikes and the whole trip has been reserved - it all sounds easy but should be fun. Nelson is situated at the top of the South Island and is renowned for its long sunshine hours. The trail is an off road trail that at times hugs the beautiful Tasman Bay and takes you to the Able Tasman National Park . In the meantime we continue to visit friends and explore places in the magnificent Southern Alps

Entering the Malbourough Sounds on the ferry across Cook Strait

The view from our bedroom at Kens brothers place

Keas are extremely d’instructive and highly intelligent parrots they live in the high Alps

Today was across the Southern Alps to theWest Coast

It is a high alpine crossing with glorious scenery it rained the whole way so the waterfalls were wonderful

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Mike AylingTricia
You have a magnificent "back yard"
This time last year we took a Grand Pacific coach tour on both islands and included the ferry from North to South Islands.

Mike
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4 years ago

Scott AndersonI feel so sad for you down there, with nowhere to go but to awesome, COVID-free Aotearoa, and with such dull, stress-free national politics. We should be so unlucky.

Thanks for taking us along on this excursion. When we toured NZ 30 years ago we passed through Nelson but didn’t have time to go west to Abel Tasman. It’s high on our list if the country ever lets Americans enter again.
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4 years ago

Tricia GrahamTo Mike AylingOne thing Covid has done has been to give us the opportunity to explore it rather than leap on t plane and fly away. We have been to places we haven’t visited for 50 years!
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4 years ago

Tricia GrahamTo Scott AndersonWe lived in Nelson for a year over 50years ago and part from walking the Able Tasman Park haven’t been back since so are really looking forward to it even if our bike ride is so pathetically short.
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4 years ago

Suzanne GibsonWonderful that you are out on your bikes for a tour again!
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4 years ago

Tricia GrahamTo Suzanne GibsonIt feels good Suzanne even though it is an incredibly short trip. Get to Nelson today and start tomorrow
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4 years ago