Momorangi Bay to Pelorus Bridge South Island Marlborough Region 2022
Momorangi Bay to Pelorus Bridge
Marlborough Region
South Island New Zealand
2022
Picton
We travelled by Bluebridge Cook Straight Ferry, arriving just after 6pm there was an hour-and-a-half delay at Wellington because of the big swells on the early sailing.
Fortunately, the weather was great when we set off with minimal swells.
This is the first time we have used Bluebridge and we couldn't fault the service. The food was great and we booked a cabin so we had a chance to relax on our own without having to wear a mask.
It was high tide when we drove off and did scrap on the new under wheels that we installed with the tow bar just for this purpose, they did the job well.
The drive from the ferry to the Doc camp is only 13kms but there is a limit of 12.6mtrs including a tow vehicle on 8.5kms of Queen Charlotte Drive. We just fit in the limit and take it very quietly on this windy road at this time of night.
Momorangi Bay Doc Camp
Charges apply to stay, but free to stay on our Doc Pass for a maximum of 7 nights on power. This will change from 1st July to $3 for power per Doc Pass.
NO DOGS, no cell signal, Wi-Fi good. A couple of things not mentioned in the symbols: a laundry and dryer also the inland power sites, shop & cafe are closed in winter.
The facilities are only a couple of years old and wonderful
There is a small wharf here
A couple of visiting paradise ducks
A Heron enjoying hunting for food at a low tide
A short walk behind the camp
Ngakuta Bay
We walked on the Link Pathway Way, the section to Ngakuta Bay starts behind the camp at Momorangi Bay and goes all the way back to Picton we turned around at Ngakuta Bay.
Ngakuta Bay
Ngakuta Bay
The Grove
After a day of light rain, we were ready for another walk so carried on the link track this time starting on the foreshore of the Momorangi Bay Doc Camp. Another easy mainly flat track. We passed a few brave people cycling the track, they were covered in mud.
Looking over to camp on the way home
Tirimoana
Perfect weather to walk a part on the Queen Charlotte Track, we drove from camp in the Jimny to Tirimoana, where the track starts the road is very narrow for motorhomes but doable. We walked to Davies Bay Camp and then beyond turned around at the 6km mark.
Return 12kms-2.53hrs muddy track made easy with walking sticks, we were grateful for the bike wash to clean our boots.
Havelock
Moving day stopping for lunch at Captains Daughter Restaurant Havelock, we can recommend the Steamed Mussels and for dessert the Sundaes.
The Captain's Daughter Restaurant Havelock
There is also outdoor seating
Pelorus Bridge
Excellent camp if you like walking or just relaxing, there is a cafe here. NO Dogs, wifi ok. The Powered sites are situated across the bridge separate from the main camp on the other side of the river at Kahikarea Flat. We had a look at the main camp it has everything including a washing machine and dryer, it was completely deserted, and most of the sites are roped off because they on well care for grass.
We stayed here for 7 days last year in November and enjoyed it, so will stay 7 days now in July. The difference we noticed is the sun even though we are having beautiful sunny days there is only one site that gets the sun at this time of the year as we are nestled in the forest, so just as well we are on power to keep warm. There are two flush toilets and one hot free shower on the powered side. We did all the walks here last year and will do them all bar one this time, leaving out Daltons Track which is about 16km return mostly over private farmland and was a bit of a drudge so once is enough for that one.
Pelorus Road End to Emerald Pool Hike
Last year we rode to this walk on our bikes 28k return, the road is not suitable for our motorhome there are fords to negotiate and the road is gravel, narrow and very rough. It starts off beside our camp on Maungatapu Road which is sealed so don't be fooled into thinking it will be fine for a motorhome.
By the time we did the 14km ride just to get there, I was knackered and we didn't do the walk. This is one of the reasons we are finding the Jimny good to have now so we can drive to these out-of-reach places.
We did the first one on the list
Frog on the swing bridge
Looking across the river to a waterfall
Umm the Emerald Pool is a swirling current
Frog what are you doing
Better in the summer for this view
Return 7.63km-2hrs 20mins that includes me falling over in a water crossing in the middle of winter.
Trig K Lookout Hike
Starts at the main car park we did this walk the reverse way last year, which means the steep section is the climb up today.
Return 8.31kms-3hrs good workout so earned our treat at the cafe
Circle, Tawa & Totara Walks, River access, Weta Walk & Elvy Waterfalls Track
These are all short walks except out to the second waterfall, so we decided to do them all in one go including the waterfalls even though we passed them on the Trig K hike, making it worth putting the boots on.
Return 10.63kms-3hrs
The walks map and descriptions
Havelock
So having done all the walks we took the Jimny for a tiki tour back to Havelock.
We did the short walk at Cullens Point and the Waterfall track in town that is part of the Mt Takorika Tracks.
Main waterfall
We didn't do the loop as intended instead backtracked to look for the other waterfalls, finding the track was a no-go in winter vertical climb and slippery couldn't be bothered.
After lunch, we headed home turning off at Canvastown and driving out to Butchers Flat Doc Camp to have a look it is in the middle of nowhere and boy, they weren't kidding when the big sign said not suitable for Motorhomes and vehicles with a large overhang, it is a single-lane rough metal road with ford crossings. Boards are telling the history along the road there used to be gold mining back in the day, but now it looks like the area is used for forestry.
It might be nice camping here in summer but in winter it looks cold and damp, we saw someone was camping in a tent only for the hardy I would say.
Still in Pelorus Camp today I worked on my blog while Frog washed the Motorhome and Jimny with a couple of buckets and cloth method (no hose) something he learnt from Selwyn in our first year on the road. The most energy I used was walking to the cafe for lunch, we enjoyed loaded wedges that had cheese bacon onion and sour cream enough for two and a hotdog each was 'yummy'.
We have been using the new windscreen cover and can report it helps to keep us warm with no condensation at all on the inside of those front and side windows that aren't double-glazed. Windscreen Cover Details
Useful Links:
2020 Post 'recommend Okiwi Bay & French Pass' an area we by-passed this year