Farewell Spit 4WD tourNelson

It was very dark at 05:00 am to get up and have the car packed and also catch the 4WD trip at 06:15 (still dark). The tides are the reason for these hours. Once we got over the shock, and we were underway, it was a great time of day to be doing the trip.

The 4WD bus held about 20 and the Swedish young woman driver gave us a constant commentary of birds, history, seals and much more. Two buses ran today which is sensible for 4WD outings in remote places. More on that...




The bus ran down the Spit, which is about 10 km wide and has a very flat sand beach and sandhills in centre. It was beautiful once the sun began to rise.

We saw a lot of NZ birds but the short season for migration has finished so no sign of godwits heading for Siberia.






Midway in the journey was the lighthouse with a stop for tea/coffee and a muffin. The lighthouse was originally operated using kerosene lamps and a staff of 3. These days it is run on power from a mains cable installed in 1930. It could easily by run on solar power if the cable needed repairs.

One of three houses once lived in by the lighthouse keepers.

We saw a number of seals either frolicking in the surf or resting on a rock.

Alas, as the other bus sped off ahead of us our Swedish girl did a 4WD no-no and missed a gear on a soft bit of sand and the bus was in up to its axles. When she needed the other bus he was out of sight and out of communication! The passengers took off their shoes and helped her to dig out in front of the wheels. This didn't help so she phoned for assistance.  Nobody appeared to help, so the men dug out more sand, pushed and shoved and pulled, and we were on our way again.
Hurrah!

 A view of Cape Farewell ended the trip about 13:15 pm.

Then back to Nelson to sort out the rental car in the morning and the flight home.