Nelson City

Nelson itself also had quite a lot to do. We stopped at a little fruit and veggie store on our walk downtown and I picked up blueberries and peaches. The Saturday market had a surprisingly large number of vendors, and I found some art and a book to buy. I also picked up a carton of fresh strawberries while D picked up a delicious garlic sourdough loaf.

There was some nice architecture and a very weird store window that I took a picture of. You find the weirdest things out and about sometimes.

The Nelson Provincial Museum was small but good. I really enjoyed the Women of WWI exhibit which featured a whole room full of mannequins dressed up in styles of the time. But what was interesting was the stories on all of these amazing women who pushed and persevered to serve their country and those in need during the turbulent war years and beyond. It really inspired me.

not that long ago, when Britain still ruled the world...

Nelson's cathedral

weird shop window with bat iphone things and a baby horde

Abel Tasman National Park - Harwoods Hole and Wainui Falls

The drive from Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park is fairly manageable, although we weren't always sure our car would be able to make it up the hills. Our first hike was at Harwoods Hole Track which leads to the deepest vertical shaft in New Zealand. Unfortunately when you get to the end of the track to see the hole, it is covered by bushes and rocks so you have to envision what you saw on the website. Some people are crazy enough to descend down there with ropes, but we enjoyed the rock formations and headed back, using the walk to brainstorm entrepreneurial ideas post-graduation. It's amazing the insights you can have while out and about in nature not being stressed. Later in the day we hiked to Wainui Falls, which is a big and loud waterfall.

 

Harwoods Hole

Rock above Harwoods Hole

 

I've never seen leaves like this before

 

 

isn't this the sweetest little mushroom?!

Awesome grooved rock formation

Cool roots

View opposite the start of the Harwoods Hole Track

Wainui Falls

Trip to Nelson

We took a little trip up to Nelson before the busy-ness of the school year starts up. The drive from Christchurch was quite scenic and the sunny weather made for good photos.

We stopped at a waterfall just off the highway on the drive up. Unfortunately I slipped on a large loose rock in the gravel parking lot and scratched up my hand catching my fall -- haven't had that kind of dirt burn for a long time. At first I thought the kayak sign was a mistake, but then D said you could actually kayak down the falls. Crazy!