Stop 3: Motueka

Augustin had us walk forever to this hostel because he liked the name and we got our first lesson about traveling in wintertime. Many hostels close because there aren’t enough travelers. We walked to the next closest place which had happened to open that day after being closed for a month. It was us and a girl from London and it felt like our own private home. The three of us watched the Olympics, played some New Zealand monopoly (minus a few key cards/money denominations) and had a good time.

The next day I went to hike Able Tasman. It is an absolutely spectacular park, but unfortunately it was cold and pouring rain. Not the best day for it. Fortunately the water taxi people gave me a poncho which pretty much saved me, but I couldn’t help but sing “Poncho, poncho mom” (inside Hild joke) the whole time. The rain made the waterfalls pretty and brought out the green, but I really want to go back and see it in the sunshine. It is absolutely incredible what sunshine does to this country. Everything is beautiful when it is overcast, but it’s just phenomenal when the sun is shining on it.

The pouring rain from the water Taxi.

Don't I look attractive!

Swing Bridge!

Waterfall!

 

The next day it continued to rain all day so I stayed inside, read a book and watched the Olympics. Bus drivers here are hysterical. Not only do they do an excellent job of talking about the towns you go through and pointing out the interesting things to see, but they really interact with the passengers and crack jokes. Ex. While driving -“I’m done talking for now. I’m going to go back to my nap if anyone else wants to do the same.”