Okiwi Bay to Blenheim

Beachfront bench, Okiwi Bay

Here's Okiwi Bay, from the car. Today we drove from here to Blenheim where we're doing a major re-supply tomorrow at the organic store, grocery, and bookshop.

Here's a rarity: A Dept of Conservation campground with a cafe. We camped here at Pelorus Bridge four years ago. Today it was about halfway on our drive, so we nipped in (did I just write "nipped in"?) for a flat white to go. Keep in mind too that we're towing a caravan and there's no place with easier parking than a campground.

(Click here to view map if reading in email.)

The Mussel Pot in Havelock has never been open during any of our three visits, but the dancing rooftop mussels (or are they screaming because they're about to go into the pot?) never fail to make me smile.

If you're forever grabbing a bottle of MATUA sauv blanc at Costco in the US, here's its origin, the wine trail on 62 between route 6 to the west and 1 to the east, which leads into Blenheim. This road is lined with vineyards and driveways that lead to tasting rooms, where you can sip your wine with or without delicious food to accompany.

Sheep mowing the vineyards, petrol-free and making so much sense.

When we checked into our campground the desk guy said: you can park here or here, indicating on a map, but here is where 20 12-year-old rugby players are staying for the next couple of days because they have a tournament. We decided to give them some space...