När vatten är så dyrbart att det måste låsas in

Från toppen av kullen och på kartor kunde jag se en vattensamling. Jag tänkte gå dit och sitta och titta på vattnet och chilla (i hettan).
Det visade sig vara en reservoir och tillträde är förbjudet. Jag blev mycket besviken. Vart är vi på väg när vi inte kan lite på att folk har vett att ta hand om naturen som är livsviktig?

Dandenong Ranges

Jag var bara i Adelaide över en långhelg. Sen återvände jag till Melbourne och råkade få jobb som au pair till en familj i en förort öster om stan. Precis invid något slags skogsreservatsområde som jag promenerat en del i.

Det är backigt och brant men om man orkar hela vägen över kullen är utsikten helt ok. 

Mest är det väldigt torrt och grönt på ett brunt och brännt sätt. Men det finns en och annan bäck som sväller upp när det regnar. 

Jag hittade ett litet vattenfall. Alltså det var inte så att jag råkade gå förbi bara. Det är skyltat och välbesökt med en stor parkering i närheten. 

Och en botanisk trädgård med massa rhododendron, men de var överblommade. Däremot var den här häftig. 

Australian Street art

Adelaide

I took a night bus to Adelaide. It was hot there. 

In the botanical garden I took a free tour and learnt a little about the native plants (they are very special) and how the aboriginals used them. 

Adelaide is a nice medium sized city. But easy too hot for my taste. 

Melbourne

The 5th November I landed in Australia. I spent a few days exploring Melbourne.

Saw my first Kangaroo/Wallaby while walking up the thousand steps.... 

... with my couchsurfing host Becca and her friends <3

Golden Bay to Canterbury

 The day after I hitchhiked to Richmond. There I met up with Katie from Germany. She had rented a campervan and was headed to Christchurch. I travelled with her as far as Rangiora. We spent the night in Lewis Pass on an almost empty campground next to a river. 

It brought out lovely memories of my hiking in that area.

Last night in Golden Bay

 Before I left Golden Bay I went to see Chris Bennett again so I could return his trousers. He invited me to spend a night with him and his Danish wife Lise in their beautiful house.

I hitchhiked there and went for a walk on the beach and took a look at a Marae. 

 It was Golden Bay from another angle. But still gorgeous :-) 

Farewell spit

Farewell spit is a sandbank twirling out in the ocean on the south islands north western edge. Before I went there I mostly knew it from TV images of stranded whales. Apparently the sand confuses the whales eco location and big standings (with hundreds of whales at once)  had happened several times there. 

 The sandy "spit" is a reserve and not open to the public. But I followed a track up in the hills and got a good view.

Wharariki beach

One days Joss said: So when do you wanna go out to Farewell spit? 

Of course I had to see it. So I took a day off digging in the garden and went out to the road and stretched out my thumb. First I hitchhiked to Wharariki beach. 

I saw a couple of seals in the caves and walked barefoot in the sand. 

 

 I looked out at the archway islands.

If this looks a little familiar I was told windows is using this as a screensaver or background or something. Maybe they even think they own the view. But it's there, free for everyone to see. 

Hack n' stay

One day Joss met up with her horsey friends and had a memorial ride in honour of a friend that recently committed suicide. The ride was organized by Hack n' Stay a horsefarm specialising in horse trekking. A really nice place. 

And I met Arni again! He was sold by Sharon to Hack n' Stay. The first time I met him he was a miscevious young horse. Now he's becoming into a working horse. 

After the ride pizza was served for everybody. I ate until I felt like exploding. It was nice to meet the other woofers at hack n stay! 

The last wwoofing

The Heaphy track took me from the west coast into Golden Bay. In Golden Bay I did my very last wwoofing. With Joss and her two horses Prince & Madonna and her two cats Tess & Tickles. 

Saying the names of the cats quickly after another gives you an idea about the light-hearted and fun loving soul Joss possess. The Golden Bay is very hippie and green. I truly enjoyed it!

I had a great time with her; working in her garden and walking along the beach near her home.