01/04/2018 - Exploring old coal mines

After only one night, we left the coastal town of "Westport" and headed north towards "Karamea". Our next destinations are all dead ends. There are no cross connections to other cities in the north, so we are forced to return to Westport.

The time change last night didn't make much of a difference in the morning. After breakfast, it was time to set sail. After a short drive, we reached the small ghost town of "Millerton". Coal mining was carried out here until 1963. Since the mine closed down, the town has become almost deserted. Many houses are abandoned and dilapidated. When we parked the car at the old coal mine, we felt a bit uneasy. The road was partially covered in moss, tree roots were pushing through the asphalt, and there was trash scattered everywhere. Nevertheless, we decided to venture into the mine. After five minutes, we reached the former mine track. There, a fence blocked our way. In front of us were old mine carts. When we leaned over the fence, we could see the entrance to the mine on the right. Looking to the left, we could make out the old rails that apparently transported the coal down to the coastal town (where it was then transferred to trucks for further processing). However, we couldn't see that far anymore, as this mystical place is now overgrown.
When we returned to the car, we discovered an old access road. We spontaneously walked along it and were more than sure that no car has driven along here in decades. Accordingly, the area looked overgrown. As hope increasingly vanished to reach old traces of mining work, we headed back to the parking lot.
On the way to the coast, we passed through the "Grand Canyon". Although it has little to do with the original in America, it still appeared impressive and imposing, so we stopped for a photo.
We spent the next longer break in "Hector". This is where the hike with the charming name "Charming Creek Walkway" begins. In the past, the "Charming Creek Railway" used to run here. The steam locomotives transported coal and wood to Hector. Nowadays, the unused rails form the foundation for the walkway. Some information boards highlighted the difficulties and dangers of the railway line. It is hard to imagine how the old wagons fought their way through the sometimes narrow passages.
Today, Easter Saturday, was quite busy. Many local families took advantage of the sunny holiday to go hiking. In addition, the route was visited by some mountain bikers.
A personal highlight of this hike was an old suspension bridge that even made our knees tremble. Shortly afterwards, we reached the next highlight. The "Mangatini Fall" is the widest waterfall we have seen in New Zealand so far. The water rushed down the mountain. Unfortunately, most of the mosquitos were also nearby, and they had bitten us quite a bit that day.
After about two hours, we hadn't reached the "end" of the track yet, so we started the return journey.
After a 30-minute car ride, we reached the overnight destination for the next night. The campsite is a true institution. "Gentle Annie" is a café that offers a large lounge area for campers, a free pizza oven, and the opportunity to park and stay near the sea.
Before we had dinner, we visited a maze that is also part of the campsite. The owners created it on a small hill. We found our way through high hedges and grasses and reached the goal in a short time. From here, we had a beautiful view of the coast.
To get back to the campsite, we walked along the rocky beach. There were piles of driftwood lying around again and again. Some people built a teepee, others used it to start a bonfire.
When our stomachs started to growl, we headed to the kitchen. Unfortunately, it was completely crowded, so we had to use the microwave this time. When the food was finally lukewarm and we could do the dishes afterwards, we were amazed when we stepped outside. It was pitch-dark! The look at the clock surprised us - it was only 7:00 p.m.!? Wow. We were shocked. At this time yesterday, it was still relatively bright... hello time change. The early darkness is a big problem for us as campers. Of course, we could use flashlights to pack up the cooking utensils and such, but that would attract mosquitos, which we definitely don't want to have in our car again like we did on December 6, 2017. For us, it was clear: the day now starts and ends much earlier.