Miscellenia

Getaway to Golden Bay

So, in case you were wondering why there were no posts at all for 5 days last week, it’s because I escaped on a ‘no internet, no worries’ weekend with a bunch of fantastic friends, including the wonderful Theresa who was over from Melbourne, Chiara who is finally back from the States, and other wonderful buddies who you may recognise from photoshoots and music videos.

We took four and a half days, skipped over the channel to the South Island, and sunned ourselves in aptly named Golden Bay.  (‘sunned’ meaning subjected ourselves to small amounts of outdoor time after liberal application of sunscreen – the only person who got even a tiny bit burnt was me.  I forgot to put sunscreen on my part and my scalp got a bit pink and sore).

It was supposed to be a ‘no internet’ weekend, but some people just didn’t get the ‘no technology’ memo:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Still, there were plenty of long walks down country roads in the middle of nowhere:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

And lazy cup-of-tea mornings on porches overlooking the sea:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

And visits to the beach:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Where we found sand graffiti of a rather uninspired nature, so we improved it.  We like squids.  Cephalopods rule.

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

We also  visited Te Waikoropupu (The Water of Dancing Sands) springs, which are the largest springs in the Southern Hemisphere, and have the clearest water in the world after that found under the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica (and since you aren’t likely to get a chance to see that water, this is effectively the clearest).

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

The springs look shallow, but they are really incredibly deep.

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

They are also gobsmackingly, stunningly gorgeous, like so much of New Zealand, so I’m going to show you lots of pictures of the springs.

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Also, there were baby duckies.  I like ducks.

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Beautiful springs + baby duckies = happy Dreamstress

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

In addition to ducks, we saw coos (and ships!  But not the kind on the sea)

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

And we picked strawberries:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

And I saw watermelons growing, which I’ve never seen before:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Speaking of new food-stuffs, I also tried a pickled egg.  I think this photo should give you a good idea of what I (and everyone else) thought of them:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Much yummier were birthday barbecues cooked in an adorable little barbecue gazebo:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

And Rosy Glow chocolates made in a rosy-glow house (seriously, that house is a chocolate shop too):

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Good times were had by all.

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

It’s a good thing we only wanted to relax though, because there weren’t any jobs:

Golden Bay 2013 thedreamstress.com

Ah, lovely times away with lovely friends.  Good to be home and back in the thick of things though!

10 Comments

  1. Dear Leimomi,

    Ah, just took a little mini-vacation, and am smiling. Thank you for sharing! Those springs are so cool!

    We have a blue spring right here in town, but while it’s a deep, deep blue color, it’s quite shallow by comparison, and the only plant that grows in its chilly waters is bight green watercress. What a contrast to the life-and-color-filled depths of your springs!

    Very best from a post-surgery semi-invalid under wool blankets in wintry Kentucky,

    Natalie

  2. The springs are beautiful. Thank you for the lovely pictures of them.

    On a totally different note, around here eggs pickled in the same brine used for pickled beets (vinegar, sugar, and of course that lovely red beet color) are a delicacy. My mother used to make them; you simply place shelled hard boiled eggs in beet brine and refrigerate. After a week or so, the eggs are dark purplish pink and the yolks are nearly orange and they are, in my opinion, delicious. But everyone’s mileage varies. 🙂

  3. The springs are beautiful. Thank you for the lovely pictures of them.

    On a totally different note, around here eggs pickled in the same brine used for pickled beets (vinegar, sugar, and of course that lovely red beet color) are a delicacy. My mother used to make them; you simply place shelled hard boiled eggs in beet brine and refrigerate. After a week or so, the eggs are dark purplish pink and the yolks are nearly orange and they are, in my opinion, delicious. But everyone’s mileage varies. 🙂 Your pickled eggs look different, though.

  4. Those springs are so beautiful! I love all of the plant and animal life in there. It would be pretty interesting to swim in, I bet! I’m glad you had a nice time relaxing in that very, very pretty place. Every time you post pictures like these, it makes me want to buy a one-way ticket to New Zealand!

  5. I’m with Zach…every time you post pictures of places (not just New Zealand) you make me want to visit! Those springs look unreal, they’re so gorgeous. And I had to laugh out loud at the transformed sand drawing!

  6. Wow, what a beautiful place. Those springs look amazing. I wish I could visit New Zealand one day.

  7. Lynne says

    Pupu Springs – a magical place. Good for the soul.

    I’m delighted you had such a lovely holiday!

  8. I want to swim in that spring! The water looks so amazing and I’m so tired of New England Winter. I need a vacation like that.

  9. Cheyene says

    I loved reading this post! I had a smile on my face the entire time I read it.
    It looks like you had an incredibly fun time! And what gorgeous places you have there!
    I laughed at the part where you all improved the sand graffiti. 🙂 Cephalopods do rule!

    Glad to have you back, and I truly enjoyed hearing about your vacation!!! 🙂

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