Merry Christmas from the Southern Hemisphere

 December 24th

Today turned out to be hot. First morning for a while that it's not rained. After a very leisurely breakfast eaten Al Fresco, and watching the rising water as the tide came in, it was try and find a beach for Christmas day.

Leaving Collingwood and travelling North along the Farewell Spit road there were two possibilities.Both had small car parks, one with a toilet the other without. Both were very popular with the fisherman, their rods were anchored to the ground, lines stretching out before them. Would they be there tomorrow? With it being Christmas day, I don't suppose the wives would appreciate them going absent when dinner had to be cooked.  This day and age everyone lends a hand... or do they?? One major problem with choosing these beaches, at high tide the water covers what ever sand there is and unfortunately high tide on Christmas day is at 12 noon!

We gave up on these, instead returned to Collingwood a little deflated. Then a thought, if we took the coast road here in Collingwood, would we find something suitable. We pulled into a small lay-by of sorts just to stop for a look. Yes the beach was littered with those dead trees washed up from the river but a beach of sorts was present. This might be the place for us.

After lunch a tour to Farewell Spit and Cape Farewell had been arranged. Leaving at 1 pm, we found ourselves on the second small tour bus with only about 12 others on it. So first a bit of info about this tour.

Farewell Spit is around 35km long and public access is restricted to the first 4km. Vehicle access is only allowed for supervised tours by concession holders. First the tour visits Cape Farewell  (the South Island’s most northern point) and Fossil Point. From there the bus drives onto the spit with the sand dunes to one side and sea on the other and fabulous sculptors carved out by the wind. before finally heading towards the historic Lighthouse and reserve.

 Playing in the waves, a seal

It was an interesting journey to Cape Farewell. First we entered the spit along a sandy track, bus stopped for photo opportunities, before then having to cross over to the other side through a wonderful arch of trees to do the rest of the trip.

Mostly photos now, there is only so much one can say about sea and sand but some of the patterns made by the wind was phenomenal.

 

There was a planned stop to see the shell fossils, Paddy our driver made it very plain not to go near to the nesting Oyster Catchers. There is always one that takes no notice.

A disgruntled Oyster Catcher

 

We couldn't get near to the fossils. All the rocks that were there this fur seal chose happened to chose it as a resting place.

 Next stop was our destination. So some facts about this lighthouse taken from Farewell Spit Tours. 

The historic lighthouse is located about 27 kms along the beach, almost at the seaward end of Farewell Spit. Construction started on the first lighthouse back in 1869, but as it was constructed of wood it deteriorated quickly in the abrasive sand-laden winds that roar across this exposed site. A new steel lighthouse was built in the 1890s and is still operating today, although now on mains power with an automated light. The small community of houses at the base of the spit tells of a rich history of lighthouse families living there over time. 

A 40-minute stop to explore the area and although Ian was desperate to climb the lighthouse, it was forbidden, he was gutted!.We had tea and muffins though, a very nice thought from the tour company.

The way back was now a little difficult. The tide had turned, not a problem for the bus, but it was the wind that had whipped up the sand into mini dunes and the track was no longer straight forward. In fact quick sand was also a problem, these buses can handle that but the depth of dunes was a different matter, We zig zagged to and fro even getting very close to going into the sea. All great fun though if not a teeny bit scary. 

 

Another stop had been planned, a walk up a dune and a run down. Again not for me but Ian was always game and up he went.

What I liked about our driver Paddy was he stopped often to show us some of the different birds along the shore line. 

Variable oystercatchers juvenile.

Pied Shags on an old Willow tree. It arrived in the storms of 2011 and the locals now call it the Beech Tree!

Black Headed tern

And this lone seal barring our way

After 6 hours on the road we arrived back at Collingwood. Fish and chip takeaway finished a really great afternoon. Another highly recommended tour.

As I'm posting this on Christmas day in New Zealand both Ian and I want to wish everyone in the Southern Hemisphere a Very Merry and Happy Christmas.