Tackling the Tracks at Tahunanui
TUESDAY 22 JULY 2025 - MONDAY 25 AUGUST 2025
(No map this time as we are STILL in Nelson!)
This wee cartoon resonated with us as we approached the end of ‘Wintering Over’ in Nelson. When we first arrived in Nelson we needed to stay put for a while as the weather was throwing some real curve balls all around New Zealand but with a brilliant camp ground beside a beautiful beach, such easy access to public transport and a town that offers many adventures we have really had the opportunity to relax into retirement.
We have made extremely good use of the buses in Nelson which are free for those of us who are 65+. Google Maps makes it oh so easy to work out which bus/es you need to catch, from which bus stop and where you need to walk to or from to get to where you want to be.
Nelson Bus Route Number 4
For the first of the three Achilles Stretching adventures we went on, we decided to head to The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary which only involved one bus ride and left from the stop just outside our campground. Just minutes from Nelson’s city centre, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the South Island’s largest fully fenced eco-sanctuary - 690 hectares of protected native forest alive with rare and threatened species. It was a sunny day and we hadn’t really given any major thought to what the sanctuary would be like so we hadn’t really gone prepared for a full on tramp. We hadn’t worn tramping boots or taken my tramping poles but luckily we had left it long enough after ALL that rain and the tracks were in good condition. What we definitely hadn’t counted on was that most of the tracks went straight up, thank goodness the sanctuary had hiking poles you could borrow. Unfortunately it was too cold for the Tuataras to be out sunning themselves but apparently you do get to see them when the weather is warmer. We did hear and see the Korimako - Bell Bird and Dave even spotted a Kakaruai - South Island Robin. We also saw some rangers heading off with some tracking devices to locate a kiwi they had temporarily misplaced. At least it was all downhill on the way home and our bus left from just outside the sanctuary.
While we have been in Nelson we celebrated Dave’s birthday and finally had some success in selecting a restaurant. I can’t believe that I didn’t get any photos!! We went to an Asian fusion place in Nelson city called Hawker House. The food and cocktails were superb. We had to go a couple of days before Dave’s birthday as the restaurant wasn’t open on the actual day but that just meant we got to go out again on his birthday to a local place called Sprig and Fern - well, you have to go out on your birthday, don’t you??
On one of our many bus trips into town we noticed signs for “The Centre of New Zealand”. As we have been to the “Top of New Zealand” and the “Bottom of New Zealand” we thought we should make an effort to tick this off the checklist of places visited. To get there was a simple bus trip and a bit of a walk. Unfortunately, Mr Google doesn’t give you the elevations of the walk and so we soon found ourselves on an Achilles Stretch Part Two. We were quite sure that they could have found a place on the flat to call the ‘Centre of New Zealand’ but, no, it was at the top of a very steep hill with a “Jacob’s Ladder” path that just kept on giving. We had chosen a spectacular blue sky day for this trip and the view from the top was worth every bit of the effort it took to get there.
On our way back down the hill we noticed a little side track to “The Kauri Tree”. We knew that Kauri will grow in the South Island but they are not as prolific as they are in the top half of the North Island so we thought we would make the detour. Still, we were a little bit under-whelmed by the 76 year old Kauri we found. I guess we have been spoiled by Tane Mahuta!!
It’s a Kauri, but not as we know them.
If we walk right along Tahunanui Beach we come to Rocks Road which is the main road into town. It follows the harbour around and with all the clear, blue sky days we have been having, provides an interesting walk for us. Every time we head along it we spot a house we hadn’t seen before or huge Mullets swimming in the shallows or another container ship coming into port. It’s a walk we have done many times as it also takes us to Burnsco, which is a shop that boaties and motorhome owners are very familiar with. The other place we have to go past on the trip is The Boathouse, but more often than not, we don’t go past it. With a generous deck that sits over the water this is an eating establishment that has allowed us to stop and watch the activity in the harbour while enjoying lunch - and rewards us for all that strenuous exercise!
On our walks around Rocks Road we had noticed a sign that led to “Days Track”. As this track headed up a hilly piece of road that one of our bus routes followed we knew when we decided to take this track we would be heading into Achilles Stretch Part 3 and the track did not disappoint. We did wonder who Mr Day was and whether he was any relation to a friend in Australia but we didn’t realise that this would all be explained further along the track. With a mixture of steps and steep paths and streets we just kept going up, up, up and once again were rewarded with a spectacular 360° view of Nelson. As we headed back down toward Rocks Road we came across Paddy’s Knob which is a lookout about halfway down the incline and it was here that we got our answers. Patrick (Paddy) Maurice Day 1854 - 1947 wandered away from his Mum at the tender age of two and a half and became lost. His family lived in a tent at the Basin on Rocks Road, as did other pioneer families. After a search of two days the toddler was found curled up and fast asleep on what was then a bush covered hill. From that time the area became known as Paddy’s Knob and also gave the track its name.
Another of the bus routes that we use fairly frequently takes us past the Nelson Classic Car Museum. Since our first visit back in February they have added a life size Matchbox Car container which is used to display one of their fab vehicles. I had to get a photo of it for Vincey.
At this stage we are leaving Nelson on Sunday 31 August and heading back towards Christchurch. We know there is still a bit of winter to go but having stayed at Tahunanui Beach for two months it is definitely time to get back on the road. We have loved our time in Nelson and will be back again in November before we head back to the North Island.
