Banks Peninsula: Flea Bay to Stony Bay

Lucky us.  Glorious weather guaranteed great views as we set out from Flea Bay.  This is not a long walk  -- only 8 km-- and it can be covered in 2-4 hours, but there is plenty to look at along the way.  We had no need to rush.


Beyond the mouth of Flea Bay we climbed up to the bluff skirting the bay and looked across to cliffs, sea birds, sparkling water and blue sky.  There are warnings about not going to close to the edge especially in windy or wet conditions. We had perfect weather -- had we felt like taking chances. 

Setting out, and heading up the hill.....

Eventually, the path leads down to a shelter and to a little bay where sharp-eyed hikers might actually observe seals, and not just hear them as we did.  (It is hard to make out a shiny black seal in a cove of shiny black boulders.)

The nearby shelter was worth exploring.  It is built of recycled lumber and glass, and positioned against a huge rock; an equally whimsical outhouse is perched around the corner.  Someone clearly had a lot of fun designing these buildings.

What a lovely spot!

Looking back at the shelter and loo ( upper left).

Heading down to the Seal Cave and shelter

Cabbage trees with glimpses of gum trees in bloom. 

Further along the cliff, we could have seen muttonbirds, but didn't.  The outlook near their nesting spot was spectacular nevertheless. As we climbed down towards Stony Bay we noted that grasses gave way to bush -- lots of scrubby manuka, cabbage trees, ponga  ferns, and even the occasional red-blooming gum tree.

The main bulding at Stony Bay is just one of many marvellous creations..

In brilliant sunshine, we arrived at the most eccentric of overnight spots, Stony Bay.  I felt as if we had stepped onto a movie set:  Arkansas in Akaroa.

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