In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to encounter what would eventually become New Zealand, having stumbled on Golden Bay, on the northwest end of the South Island. Of course, the Maori had already been there for three centuries . . . We, for our part, arrived on the South Island on February 13th, after a pleasant ferry trip from Wellington to Picton. This part of New Zealand, we came to understand, is the sunniest part of the entire country, and is home to several amazing parks, in particular the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. The Motueka Valley, where we stayed, is a verdant and serene farming area fed by the Motueka River, which winds through its length. Motueka (or Motuweka more properly) means "Weka Valley" in Maori, and the valley is home to loads of wekas, cheeky little flightless birds that roam through the underbrush and are more than happy to steal your lunch or watch if you leave them unattended.
As it turned out, this was the ideal place to land, quiet and sparsely populated. We stayed in a lovely house on a working farm just on the foothills of the Kahurangi range, and this place became our refuge when New Zealand shut itself down in response to the coronavirus. And while we didn't get to explore quite to the extent we'd intended when we arrived, we gladly basked in the warmth and security of this gorgeous nook nestled in the hills of a truly spectacular country.
We stayed on a quiet farm nestled at the feet of the Kahurangi National Park, the second-largest national park in New Zealand, surrounded primarily by sheep, cows, and deer. From here we had access to two national parks and the sweep of the Tasman Bay to our east. What we enjoyed above all else was the beauty and serenity of the area, and the kindness of the people.
As it turned out, this was the ideal place to land, quiet and sparsely populated. We stayed in a lovely house on a working farm just on the foothills of the Kahurangi range, and this place became our refuge when New Zealand shut itself down in response to the coronavirus. And while we didn't get to explore quite to the extent we'd intended when we arrived, we gladly basked in the warmth and security of this gorgeous nook nestled in the hills of a truly spectacular country.
We stayed on a quiet farm nestled at the feet of the Kahurangi National Park, the second-largest national park in New Zealand, surrounded primarily by sheep, cows, and deer. From here we had access to two national parks and the sweep of the Tasman Bay to our east. What we enjoyed above all else was the beauty and serenity of the area, and the kindness of the people.
