Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Mapua & Ruby Bay

Monday 26th November 2018

We enjoyed the drive through to Motueka, the countryside afresh with apple orchards, newly planted fields of hops and glimpses of the river flowing over the grey stones.

First stops in Motueka, after filling up with water at Tapawera, was the I-site for Len where he bought an annual Trout fishing licence and the hairdressers where I had a good cut from the lovely Jacki.

It was still early afternoon and a beautiful, sunny day - T shirts only - so we drove round to the Blenheim Golf course for a game ($35 each) and an overnight stay $10 extra - (if you play golf at most other courses they allow you to stay for free). The course was flat and great - a few too many bunkers for me and not a good score but I would love to play it again to do justice to both the course and me!

Kaiteriteri - beautiful!

However we resisted the temptation to play again the next day, instead driving up to Kaiteriteri, a bustling tiny seaside village with some large new buildings containing a grocery shop, eateries and apartments above, a huge campground and many tourists in their motorhomes and camper cars. Very pretty outlook from our bus on the edge of the sandy bay. We had a stroll around and I had a whizz on the flying fox while Len was stung by a bee on the top of his foot.

Flying Foxy Trish

It was my idea to drive on up the coast road to Sandy Bay / Marahou which is the start of the Abel Tasman great walk - I have done the whole walk before whilst Len and I did half of it together when we were last down in the bus. We hadn't driven the coastal road before however and Len was probably regretting taking up my suggestion as the road very hilly and windy all the way with the bends proving quite tight for the bus. Luckily the road was reasonably quiet so it was all OK. Sandy Bay / Marahou was again full of tourists with many many going out in kayaks - a very popular activity.

Relaxing at Marahou

There were a few whitebaiters out fishing in the stream at Sandy Bay and I felt tempted to stop and see if anyone was selling them as I can't find any in the fish shops!

We travelled back towards Motueka, stopping at a CAP ( charges apply parking) close to the river on the edge of the town for our nights stay. Just $5 a night if you're not needing power. They have a toilet and you can pay $2 to have a shower and $4 to use the washing machine. Len took his spinning rod down to the river to try to catch dinner but unfortunately the one ending up on the lure managed to get away.
Whilst he was there who should drive into the campground but friends from Tauranga, Jen & Pete! It is a small world - we knew they were heading down to Christchurch around this time but not where they were meandering first. So we had a good Happy Hour, another little catchup after dinner and then coffee with Jen's Christmas cake before we all left in the morning. They were on their way to Kaiteriteri whereas we headed towards town to another part of the river to fish. Len should have had the whitebait net instead however as he could see a shoal or 2 in the water!

We stayed the night behind the Motueka RSA (donation) and enjoyed the carvery along with other overnighters from Wanganui.

Sunday came and we had forgotten it was Market Day in town but we soon remembered when we took a side entrance into the main carpark and ended up with our bus right in the middle of the market and nowhere to go until an obliging man moved a no entry sign for us!

Motueka coastal path

After browsing through the market and buying some fruit and veges we walked along the coastal path from the golf club down the the port which has a good, specially constructed by Talleys, fishing pier. A couple of people there but they were only catching weed.

We watched the All Blacks vs Italy game on Prime at 12.00 after which we drove to a CAP (just one spot available behind a house in Mapua for $10)  from where we walked to The Smokehouse at Mapua where we had arranged to meet my nephew, Mark, and family, for fish and chips. It started to get cold and rainy while we were waiting but the drinking spots there are all happy for you to eat your fish and chips inside while you are having a drink so it all works well. A great evening catching up with tasty fish & good chips.

It rained all night and continued when we woke so we didn't put much on the agenda. After a wee drive around Mapua, a chat with Tracy who was helping to charge the battery on their work ute and buying the Best Ever Gourmet Pies, rogan josh lamb for Len and mince for me (it being the perfect pie day - rainy and rather dismal) at the Mapua Village Bakery we finally made the decision to retrace our steps a little and ride out the wet day at Ruby Bay Memorial Reserve ($12 a night for 2) - a beautiful spot, even in the rain, right by the sea.

Ruby and Trish 

From here I have a great view of Len surf casting in the drizzle while I write this blog and wait for my fruit cake to cook. Shallow water does not usually make for successful fishing however so I'm also roasting some veges to put in a curry for dinner tonight.