The South Island From the Road ~ The Top of the South ~ A Photo Journey
Jonathan Clark | FreeNZ
In a time when good Kiwis have experienced such harsh treatment, heartbreak, gaslighting and exclusion from this labour government, we would like to highlight the more positive aspects of this land of ours. To shine a spotlight on the beauty and majesty that still exists in our lush natural environment, as well as the many communities of like-minded beings who frequent the quiet corners.
Governments come and go, but New Zealand’s natural beauty, the soul of our nation, will outlast all societal chaos in the end.
Greetings fellow Kiwis, over the coming months/year, my aim is to publish on the FreeNZ Substack, a series of photo essays that highlight regions of New Zealand - a mini tiki tour if you like. After 3 years of intense bombardment and gaslighting from the government and media, with the sole intention of destabilising our homeland and dividing a nation by turning Kiwis against one another, many of us want a breather, something positive for once - a reminder of the beautiful country we are fighting for.
As a photographer/cameraman for the last couple of decades both here and mostly overseas, I've built up quite the treasure trove of photos from New Zealand and around the world and I would love to share them with you - when I make some space in my downtime.
The first stop is the top of the South Island in Marlborough & Nelson Tasman. I travelled with my brother James, back in March 2023, taking a journey through the beautiful landscape of orchards, curvy coastline, golden sandy beaches, native forests, cheeky wekas and curious robins, encased at the end of summer nature symphony of cicadas and bellbirds. Scattered throughout this area is a tight and abundant community of warm freedom-minded folk.
If you have any comments about the photos/travel tips on the regions I'm presenting, please enlighten the community in the comment section below.
You are welcome to make any of the photos your screensaver/desktop background.
If people wish to purchase any photos to hang on your walls, please be patient as I am researching how to set up a gallery that is 'hands-off', fully automated taking care of fine art prints. Proceeds of the prints will go towards keeping FreeNZ running. If you can recommend a service, where we do not have to handle individual orders, preferably based in NZ (to save on postage fees for Kiwis) please let us know in the comments.
Jonathan (FreeNZ cameraman & editor)
Driving east or west from Picton hugging the coastline on Queen Charlotte Drive, one is presented with a multitude of small rural settlements and boats in their harbours.
Queen Charlotte Drive near Piction.
The War Memorial in downtown Picton.
Fishing Boat in Port Underwood, a rural settlement east of Picton. To get out here, you have to drive along a long winding gravel road through pine forested roads. Once in a while a gap opens up in the trees and you get to pull over and see stunning sounds.
Unused yacht. I wonder when this was last sailed. Cable Bay.
Cable Bay Lookout. On a windy day, this area is populated with kite surfers.
Delaware Bay and the inlet heading into Cable Bay.
Honesty box honey in Cable Bay. Selling to your local community using the honesty box system is a good reason never to go with the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), as they will be designed to choke out the “little guy”.
Something our (great) grandparents used to drive. Cable Bay Holiday Park.
The Nelson Cathedral. Well worth the wander around the gardens and a peek inside.
Boulder Bank Lighthouse, Nelson. Accessible quickly if you can find a way over in a boat. Or you can take the other option, a multi-hour walk along the Stoney Boulder Bank to get there.
Wakapuaka Memorial Hall near Nelson.
When driving to Murchison or the Nelson Lakes National Park, in parts, the country road hugs the Motueka River.
Art Car. Somewhere between Nelson and Murchison.
Nelson Lakes National Park.
House truck in Kina Beach.
Driftwood structure, Kina Beach.
Janie Seddon Shipwreck, Motueka
Janie Seddon Shipwreck & the town of Motueka.
Moutere Inlet with Motueka in the distance.
Kayaker breezing past the Motueka Saltwater Baths at high tide.
Sailor moving his boat as the tide changes. Split Apple Rock.
Woman braving the 100-meter swim from the shore to Split Apple Rock.
"That Kaiteriteri Tree", coming into Kaiteriteri around a bend in the road. Be careful when pulling off to the side. Looks best in high tide.
Driving towards the entrance of the Able Tasman National Park, it's hard not to notice Kaiteriteri Beach. For a moment you think you were in the Coromandel Peninsula.
Kaiteriteri Beach can get very crowded during the day, but at sunrise, there are just a handful of camper vans lined up at the beach car park. The tourists are sun gazing, cooking their breakfasts admiring the beachfront view.
A track runs to the top of the hill in the background where you can admire a great view while immersed in the sounds of the native bellbirds. You can listen here.
Tractor preparing to pick up boats on the trailer - during an outgoing tide. Sandy Bay.
Must be an excellent place for a high-tide picnic. Sandy Bay.
Boats in the Otuwhero Inlet at low tide. Sandy Bay.
Driving over Takaka Hill, one can take the turnoff up the 10km gravel road to Canaan Downs. The native forest backs onto the back of the Abel Tasman National Park.
Inna Dooley and the family dog gave me and James a bush walk tour of their property in Takaka. It takes her about 3 hours to mow the lawns/bush walk using the tractor mower - not something you wish to do every week.
View from Takaka out to the Abel Tasman National Park from the medical practice of Dr Bruce Dooley.
Dr Bruce Dooley and Charlie getting ready to see the patients (Bruce in his doctor’s lab coat) for the day at their Takaka medical practice (and home). You can check out our FreeNZ interviews with Dr Bruce Dooley here & here.
Charlie resting with the Dooley family pet rabbit Bagel. The bunny just passed away several minutes before this photo was taken. It had suffered heat exhaustion several weeks prior and it was all downhill from there for the wee one.
Downtown Takaka.
Te Waikoropupu Springs, Takaka
Te Waikoropupu Springs, Takaka. Unfortunately, the authorities don’t want you jumping in and drinking the water. The spring fountain that was in the car park had long been shut off when I went looking for it.
Abandoned farmhouse (and potential AirBnB), Takaka.
Abandoned house, Sandy Bay.
Collingwood, the last "Big City" on the way to the Farewell Spit. Well worth recommending a pit stop to wander the Main Street, and visit the tourist shops and cafes.
Nganga, the proprietor of Mad Cafe in Collingwood, is a delightful man full of stories - he once had a Near Death Experience (NDE) that was a major influence in shaping his freedom-orientated worldview. He has also become a thorn in the side of the local authorities due to his stand for sovereignty and freedom. The mainstream media have written hit pieces about Nganga, which means he must be doing something right!
Nganga's car. Collingwood.
Check out Nganga's paintings in the main cafe area and out the back in the "black light-lit" room of Mad Cafe. If you can pull Nganga away from his busy schedule behind the counter he will take you through the meaning of each painting.
Nganga's painting, Collingwood.
Colourful outdoors at Mad Cafe, Collingwood.
Colourful outdoors of Mad Cafe, Collingwood.
Street performer, Collingwood.
The Whanganui Inlet.
5km before reaching the car park to enter the Farewell Spit, there is a turnoff into the hills behind the settlement of Pākawau.
Enjoy the leisurely 45-minute to 1-hour drive on the gravel road out on the wild west coast.
The drive (Dry Rd) along the perimeter of the Whanganui Inlet.
The drive (Dry Rd) along the perimeter of the Whanganui Inlet.
After leaving the perimeter of Whanganui Inlet. The drive continues along the wild west coast.
Patarau Beach.
Half a kayak. Patarau Beach.
The end of the road at Puponga. In the distance is the Farewell Spit.
Dredging ruins on the beach in Puponga.
From Puponga it's a 6km drive to the iconic Wharariki.
From the car park at Wharariki, it’s a 20-30 minute walk to the beach.
Wharariki Beach.
The Archway Islands, Wharariki Beach. This rocky structure is known to grace the background of many Windows computers.
Don't forget to take something warm to wear at sunset, otherwise, it can be a chilly 20-30 min walk back to the car!
A note of appreciation
Thanks for taking the time to view this photography essay. If you would love to see more uplifting content like this, please let us know in the comments. FreeNZ would also very much appreciate your financial support by donating or signing up monthly for our Substack. Big appreciation for those who already have. I won’t lie, it’s financially challenging to keep this going as we are all unpaid volunteers. Now is the time to support independent journalism in New Zealand. And we don’t want to keep it all doom & gloom.
For further Kiwiana exploration
“I’m taking this bloody car to Invercargill!” ~ Goodbye Pork Pie
Relive New Zealand in the 1980s by experiencing the Ultimate New Zealand road trip movie Good Bye Pork Pie. The film kickstarts in Kaitaia with police chasing a yellow mini down the country and winds up in Invercargill. It was directed by the late Geoff Murphy who went on to make films in Hollywood. Watch the full movie here - for free!
https://archive.org/details/goodbye-pork-pie-1980
Robin Morrison
The late Robin Morrison is considered by many as New Zealand’s most iconic road trip photographer.
Watch this short 11 documentary: Sense of Place, made about Robin Morrison just before he passed away in 1993 at the age of 49.
The Auckland Museum is running an exhibition of Robin’s work, about a seven-month road trip he did to the South Island in 1979. Nothing short of a rich colourful spectrum of people living in the true Kiwi spirit. On top of that, his seminal book “South Island New Zealand From The Road”, has also been re-published.
If you love Robin’s work (like I do), you can get great deals on his books by searching on Trade Me. Robin’s books: “The South Island of New Zealand from the Road (first edition)” and “A Journey” are much sought-after collector’s items. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars and up for those books. If you are extremely lucky you might find a book that has been autographed by him.
Superb shots as always Jonathan. Great commentary too. Welll done.
Thanks for sharing. I imagine you could do an incredible Kiwi documentary going around interviewing freedom types such as the fella at Mad Cafe etc. Just a thought.
Brilliant shots. Thank you. Bruce's dog kind of looks like Bruce! Did you not do farewell Spit?