2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Tues, 31st Mar, 2026 Uruwhenua Reserve by Takaka River, near Takaka to Alfred Stream Reserve, Rai Valley, NZ (Ngarua Cave, Richmond & Nelson)

13 degree min, mostly clear sky and windy.

Continued on the road heading back towards Nelson. Back up the Takaka Hill - the range of hairpin turns ahead. You can see a truck heading up the hill.

Around the first hairpin turn, quick look at the view.

At the next hairpin the traffic is backed up and by the poo at the corner the truck we saw is carrying animals. He got going but it is a slow crawl, another truck came down passed us.

Time for a couple of photos of the valley.

Slowly we crawled up then passed two utes with dog boxes parked off the side but no people. Vehicles started moving normally then. Over the top - the wind is very strong. Car says the temp has dropped to 9 degrees outside. Will be warmer in the caves as they are 11 degrees all the time.

Pulled into the Ngarua Caves Lookout - the wind whistling. Had an early cuppa as the first guided tour starts at 10am. The sun is shining on the water in the distance. View across the other way.

Drove down to the caves and paid our $30 each for the 45min guided tour and got our hard hats. Replica of a Moa outside (NZs extinct flightless bird) - skeletal remains of one had been found inside the caves. There are two species of Moa here. Not the big one as they were all killed by the early Maori.

Interesting plant.

The caves were discovered in 1870s and opened to the public in 1970. They allow people to be married in the caves too - had 5 weddings so far. Only 4 of us for the tour with our guide.

Down the steps of the new entrance - we will exit at the original entrance.

Fossilised bones of something.

Our guide gave us lots of information as we went along. Hard to remember it all. Early 1900s people trekked up here to explore this area and took ‘stalactites and mites’ home with them as souvenirs or either took pot-shots at them for something to do hence there are lots of broken items.

The bones of the Little Bush Moa and Crested Moa.

This is where the pot hole was that the Moa had fallen into. It has since collapsed.

Some Kiwi bones too.

Lots of different shapes and sizes.

Straw Stalactites.

Continued on. In one area we turned off all the lights and realised how totally dark it is down here, just the sound of water dripping and sadly one fly buzzing. Very scary if you got lost.

Our guide shone at UV light on a thin straw and it stayed glowing for a few more seconds afterward.

Lots of people signed their names on the stalactites here near the original entrance. Preserved as history now but they have stopped it continuing. One is marked from 1876 and you can see all the ones that have been broken off to be taken as souvenirs. The farmer who owns the land closed it for 50 years then reopened it again with guides.

Our guide said there was a guide in 1999 named Mike. He believed the ‘end of the world’ stories so he came into the cave on the 31^st Dec, 1999 at midnight and wrote his name on the wall at 01-01-00. He survived the end of the world and amazingly kept his job.

We ended the tour at the old entrance. Now to climb up the ladder to get out. There was a tree originally that they tied the ropes too.

Not far over is an old sink hole which are called Tomos. Sadly they are responsible for the deaths of 5 sheep at least each year around here.

Very interesting and our guide had great knowledge and also a wonderful baritone voice when he sang for us in the Cathedral Cave - a song from the Hobbit. They hold the weddings in here. Some scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed around here because of the rocks and caves.

Nice views as we headed back along the track to the car park.

Thanked our guide then checked out some photos etc inside the shop.

Good map of what we walked through.

Headed back up to the main road. At the lookout we watched the water taxi ferrying people between the seaside townships.

Spotted the marble quarry that he told us about. Now they only crush the marble for paths etc. There are solid pieces of marble in the Cathedral at Nelson.

View as we past Hawkes Lookout which is now closed for DOC work on the track. Lucky we stopped on the way up.

Now for the drive back down the range. Back through the roadworks enjoying the fabulous views.

Back down, passed the apple orchards. Over the Riuwaka River into Riuwaka, Hotel est 1874.

Through the township then across the narrow bridge over Motueka River.

Down the main street of Motueka we missed driving along before.

Windier here. Stopped at a park for lunch on the other side of town near the estuary. They don’t put rubbish bins in the parks. Need to find one along the main street instead.

Back onto the highway, across the causeway of the estuary. That is the other opening - island to the left and spit to the right.

Turned off into a little lane to get a photo of a big Kiwi statue.

Back onto the main road then we turn off onto the Ruby Coast Scenic Drive. Through the next town called Tasman. More orchards and big hedges.

Alongside a big bluff then back to the coast.

Nice view over Ruby Bay towards Nelson.

Continued on - didn’t go into Mapua which is on the point with estuary entrance. Back to the highway and around the edge of the estuary. There is an island across from Mapua called Rabbit Island which has 2 bridges to get across to it.

Rolling up and down hills through acreage blocks. Nice view across to the hills near Richmond. Cloudier on the mountains. Lots of wineries around here.

Across Waimea River. Love the old concrete rails on all the bridges.

Left into Richmond - bigger city and very busy. Topped up with diesel at a cheap outlet we found on the app, 343.9c/l. Around the edge of the water.

The houses up high.

Continued on the main road to Nelson. The tide is out - reminds us of Cairns.

Around the base of the hill and past the port. Across the Maitai River.

Continued through the suburbs along the coast. There is a very long spit here too (The Boulder Bank) creating a sheltered harbour.

Turned inland. Through hills then 100k/h for the range - really! Winding through cleared forestry mountains and plenty of growing trees. Climbing up - reached the top and then started down.

Someone keeps the Christmas Tree decorated and trimmed.

Straight descent down!

Alongside a stream now. Pulled off at Graham Creek picnic area. No bins here but no rubbish left either which is good. The leaves on the trees starting to show the change of colour for autumn. Had a cuppa, 12 degrees outside!

Heard some gunshots but didn’t see anything. Continued on passing a property by the creek - looks like hillbilly country by the junk around the house.

The forestry area continues. Left the creek and cross through the next mountains on a winding road. I do appreciate that Steve is happy to do all the driving. Climbing up again - straight trees then down to farmland and plantations up high on the mountainsides.

Turned off at the site of an old sawmill (1885-1915) - now a picnic area.

Continued down the road to check out a free camp area. Lots of places to get to from here. Across Brown River - lovely and clear.

Along the road a bit to Carluke Domain. Just a few spots alongside a fence by the road - peaceful and lovely views. As it is only early we decided to continue on to the next spot.

Back out and continued on to Rai Valley village - nice mural.

300 metres on to Alfred Stream Reserve with 5 parks for self-contained vehicles. There are 2 others here already. We went into No 1 slot. No rubbish bins here either though we saw some in the village. Only 4pm but as there aren’t any more freedom camps till Picton we will take this one. Nice views here too.

We are a day ahead of my itinerary so we have time to do more exploring in Picton tomorrow before our cruise across to the North Island on my birthday, 2^nd April.

Across the grass and through the fence to check out Alfred Stream.