New Zealand South Island Adventure day 9: Charleston -> Westport -> Murchison -> Takaka - It’s another rainy day :/ Headed to Westport for brunch before going further north to Golden Bay. Stopped at Upper Bullet Gorge Lookout, Buller Gorge Swing Bridge, the largest town Murchison in between to top up fuel, Hope Saddle Lookout, and the turned northwest through Motueka Valley to Rikawa. It’s another long winding drive from Riwaka to Takaka through Takaka Hill. Stopped at Hawkes Lookout in between and finally arrived at Takaka at 7:30PM when the winding way took much longer than expected. Takaka Town Centre is actually larger than expected and I was surprised to find a Thai Restaurant there. At least I don’t have to handle lactose intolerance in this long haul trip. #goldenbay #tasman #takaka #murchison #westport #motuekavalley #northernwestcoast #hopesaddlelookout #hawkeslookout #newzealand #roadtrip (at Takaka, Golden Bay) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpuiOD8P8z3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 8: Franz Josef -> Hokitika -> Charleston - The glacier is visible from the town centre of Franz Josef. As I drove northward, it entered into the agriculture region from the glacier country and the south west coast wildness that more towns are on the way. Stopped at the historic Ross Goldfields, the popular hub Hokitika, the largest town in the west coast Greymouth and its birdview lookout, Strongman Mine Memorial, Pancake Rocks and Blowholes and finally arrived at Charleston early enough to get some healthy food at dusk. It has been raining all day that the views are not so great. Finally got time and facilities for laundry and that’s the reason I chose the small town on the highway over Westport for tonight’s stay. #franzjosefglacier #hokitika #greymouth #westcoast #buller #northernwestcoast #newzealand #roadtrip (at Charleston, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpsB1rgPDji/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=