Hibernation in Kaiteriteri

Creating a winter cave

I am now in Kaiteriteri for the winter and have been here since 2 May. The weather has alternated between beautiful, sunny, windless autumn days and some extremely heavy rainfall. Today is a cloudy, drizzly day but the heavy rain has stopped, and I was sitting underneath my awning quietly contemplating my situation - I was not doing anything, just sitting and chilling out, and eventually I decided to check all my health metrics on my Fitbit. When I looked, my heart rate was @58bpm, and the previous night I had slept for 8h47m - so I came to the realisation that I was potentially in a state of near hibernation.

My next thoughts were that it has been quite some time since I posted about my travels, so it is time for an update.

Late March-April 2025

After a ‘Bucket-List’ trip around the bottom half of the South Island, I had returned to Waikuku Beach in Canterbury, in some ways to have a rest, and also to get a few things done on the Motor Home such as a CoF, and insurance renewals.

I was much more tired than I had realised and it was great to spend some time with my brother and his wife. We all had birthdays while I stayed at Waikuku Beach, so it was great to celebrate together. It was also great playing with my brother’s dog because I do miss having a dog with me.

The weather was mostly good, with no autumn frosts, and the time passed quickly. I did get to go to the South Island Field Days in Kirwee, which was amazing, walking over 10km during the visit, looking at some wonderful equipment and tools. I resisted the urge to buy anything except for some food but it was an exceptional day. I also went to a car show in Leithfield , with many great vehicles being displayed.

I was organised enough (for once) to book the campground at Glendhu for the Warbirds over Wanaka weekend in 2026, so it sort of determines my agenda for next autumn, which will be to spend much time in central Otago on the bike trails.

It was really nice having the 5 weeks at Waikuku Beach, but I was ready to go. I had pre-booked a site at Kaiteriteri Beach for the entire winter period, through to the end of October, and it was going to be a departure from my normal journey of travelling in a motor home in New Zealand with most stops being for less than 5 days. I had already joined the Motueka Golf Course (great service) and had arranged for some sea kayak training. I had also arranged for my friend Robert to drive my car from Waikuku Beach through to Kaiteriteri - he was also bringing his bike (more on that later)

May 2025 - the journey

Well day 1 was anticlimactic! There was a huge storm that enveloped Christchurch, and with gale force winds forecast (100km+) for my entire planned trip (through Lewis Pass and Murchison) I decided that one day didn’t really matter. The Motor Home is really good to drive, except in a strong wind where wind gusts make it interesting.

Day 2 I left Waikuku Beach at 8.30am, stopped at Culverden for fuel, fed and watered myself in Murchison, then visited the Wakefield Bakery and stuffed myself with savories and cakes (I highly recommend Wakefield Bakery although I did end up covering myself in pastry and cream). I arrived at Kaiteriteri Recreational Reserve at 3.45pm feeling very excited, but not tired.

Robert’s visit

Robert arrived safe and well on Day 3 later in the evening.

The next day we went and visited some of his friends in Motueka then the following day we rode our bikes through to Marahau, then over the Marahau-Sandy Bay saddle, then down to the Riwaka Reserve, then to Mrs Smiths in Riwaka, then home to Kaiteriteri. It was a great ride, but the Marahau-Sandy Bay saddle was demanding - I was glad I had the ebike.

The following day Robert took off on the Kaiteriteri Ferry, with his bike, to be dropped off at Totaranui Beach, from where he intended riding through to Ligar Bay, staying a couple of days then riding back over the Takaka Hill to Kaiteriteri.

Now I have driven the Takaka Hill several times, but I have never considered riding a bike over the hill to be on my bucket list.

A couple of days later Robert returned, just after midday, at Kaiteriteri looking reasonably fresh. Later that day we went up Motueka Valley to see a friend - when we left it was just starting to rain, and then it rained really, really hard.

At 1am there was a terrific bang (in the middle of the heavy rain) and I immediately jumped outside to see what had caused the noise. Bugger!!! my awning stay had broken and was uselessly hanging (not attached to the Motor Home). There was not much I could do so jury-rigged it until morning (hopefully when rain stopped.

The next morning, I surveyed the damage and worked out that there was nothing I could do except talk to the insurers - shouldn’t be a problem because I had just renewed my COVI insurance (after selling off an arm and leg to pay for it).

Robert left that morning when the rain slightly eased and rode his way through to Nelson with the intention of then biking through to Picton and getting a Ferry back to Wellington. I do admire Robert, but there is no way that I would ever contemplate anything more than say 50-70km as a ride. The man is a legend, crazy, but a legend.

The Awning

I did contact COVI and then the (fun?) started. I sent photos of the broken awing stay, advising that the rest of the awning was ok and that I had done my best to make sure no further damage would occur, and I was then given information about depreciation rates on awning replacement and told that an assessor would contact me - great!

I did receive a call from an assessor (Auckland based) a few days later, who said that it was up to me to get a quote from a local repairer, because they don’t have preferred supplier relationships across NZ. Great!! I told him I was in Kaiteriteri with a broken awning that I could not retract (and therefore couldn’t drive). This meant nothing to the assessor who reiterated that it was my job to get a repairer who would then give a quote. At this stage I resolved to work with a different Insurer next year.

I did try local repairers but the first one only repaired Caravans, not motor homes - not sure why because awnings are awnings. I then contacted a repairer in Richmond/Nelson who said they do the work but the earliest they could do it was mid-June - I am just glad that I am not on the road at the moment. I provided some pictures and eventually the claim was submitted and approved.

This insurance experience, like all insurance experiences, involves some anguish and frustration, but I have been disappointed at COVI because they should be geared up for out-of-town experiences. After all they are a specialist insurer and endorsed by NZMCA. Their prices are also at the higher end, and I have had a number of people pointing me at AA, AMI, FMG and these firms appear to have nationwide repairer relationships.

Enough ranting, just time to reflect.

Things to do in Tasman Bay

Well, I am now getting settled into my non-travelling sojourn at Kaiteriteri, so have been exploring and getting my activities into gear.

Golf

I joined the Motueka Golf Club as a winter member and have played a couple of rounds. It is a really nice course with very limited rough, but lots of trees. It is significantly different to Otaki, where I have played much of my golf over recent years. A really nice, welcoming club.

Library

I also joined the Motueka Library although as a non-ratepayer and non-resident they were a little hesitant. But all was good, and it is a really nice library with lots of choices. Libraries are the backbone of our communities and should be supported.

Sea-Kayaking

It has been a bucket-list thing for me - the opportunity to spend some of my time in Tasman Bay exploring the many beaches, inlets, estuary’s etc. So, I was introduced through friends (thanks Richard and Evelyn) to Ron, a very experienced outdoor man and kayaker, who lives in Motueka. Ron is a really nice bloke and I was pleased with the introduction.

Now Ron let me know straight away that the only way he would teach me would be in a ‘proper’ kayak, not a ‘sit-on’. And that I would have to learn, and demonstrate, some proficiency in completing rollovers and upturned exit. This is very exciting but unfortunately the spray skirt that Ron provided is for a small man. I am not overweight and have a 34 waist, but I have never been a small man, and I could not get Ron’s spray skirt past my hips. So, Plan B was to either buy some off TEMU or work out a deal with Kaiteriteri Kayak Hire (KKH) to hire both a kayak and gear longer term. To date I have contacted KKH, but they have not yet come back to me - so work in progress.

Bike riding

Tasman has many different riding options, and I am exploring these (except when it rains). I am trending at about 100km’s per week.

I did purchase some new handlebars, which are 80cm wider than my own bars, and with a slight riser. I am delighted with the additional stability that these provide, and the reduced shoulder stress. Great service and advice by Coppins Outdoor Centre in Motueka

Pendant making

I have all my gear organised so I am back to making my pendants.

After the drama of the broken awning stay, I secured the awning with my Peggy Pegs gear. This gear, although expensive, is really good and I have been able to securely ‘peg down’ my very large awning.

For my pendants I have created a silicon mould and am in the process of preparing the wood inserts that will be in the pendants (surrounded by resin). The wood I am using is either Kahikatea or Mahoe (no live tree was harmed) whereas for the wooden pendants I am using Totara (from my old home in Waikanae).

Hopefully I can make some and potentially sell them in the Motueka Sunday Market which is a really good market.

Motueka

There is much to do and look at in Motueka. The shops are good, service is great, and it is a friendly place. I also like the orchards that proliferate in the immediate region, in particular Frasers Orchard which is on the south end of the Takaka Hill - their apples and pears are incredible and unlikely to be in shops because the majority are exported.

Summary

I have now been at Kaiteriteri Recreational Reserve for nearly a month. The time has flown by, and I am getting very comfortable parked up. I have been a little bit housebound for the last week because of the rain but it has not been an issue - it has given me the time and space to write this article.

I am also delighted that I arranged to have my car here with me. Motueka is only 13km away but having a car allows me to do my laundry and grocery shopping with ease and allows me to visit friends in Richmond and Brightwater.

The activities that I am undertaking are keeping me well occupied, I am very chilled out and very happy with the small space that is available to me, although the extra 10m2 under the awning is really welcome. I feel very blessed that I am somewhat out of mainstream, especially with the world acting the way it is.

Thanks for reading - as always, feedback is welcome