{"id":523,"date":"2026-02-02T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/?p=523"},"modified":"2026-04-02T17:23:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T23:23:53","slug":"2026-day-11-hokitika-and-kumara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/02\/2026-day-11-hokitika-and-kumara\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Day 11 Hokitika and Kumara"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">February 2, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11-842x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-546\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11-842x1024.png 842w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11-247x300.png 247w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11-768x934.png 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NZ_2026_Day_11.png 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map: Day 11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The morning was heavily overcast with occasional sprinkles. We drove into town and decided to visit The National Kiwi Centre. We spent a couple of hours indoors viewing different varieties of fish, turtles, frogs, huge eels, and two kiwi birds. We were there for the morning eel feeding, and I had the opportunity to feed and pet the eels. Many of the eels in the tank were 80 to 100 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1160945356?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eel feeding and petting. Video by H.Koenig.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next came the kiwi feeding. The two kiwi birds had been hiding earlier in the day, but they popped out after the food trays were filled. One of the birds became quite active and was hopping and jumping back and forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Afterwards we visited the New World supermarket across the street and stocked up on food for the next few days. Then we returned to the kiwi centre one more time to watch the noon eel and kiwi feeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We drove back to our cabin, had sandwiches for lunch, and then returned to Greymouth to swap out the rental car. The new car was ready for us just as we arrived. It was exactly the same model and color as the old car, so I was glad to be able to keep the hybrid. We did end up getting a discount of a few days off of the rental car price as compensation for all of the trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The weather in Greymouth was partly cloudy and better than in Hokitika where a storm was approaching from the south. We drove to the nearby town of Kumara to do some local sightseeing. We took a short hike to Londonderry Rock, a huge glacial erratic. It was a nice walk through the moss covered trees and ferns inside the rain forest.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-537\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5625056631127489;width:368px;height:auto\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-576x1024.jpg 576w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-169x300.jpg 169w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-768x1365.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-864x1536.jpg 864w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-1200x2133.jpg 1200w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_024643268-50-scaled.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 85vw, 576px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Londonderry Rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Next we went on another short hike to an old 1930's swimming pool site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-538\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031317945-80-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-539\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_031431871-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Swimming pool site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearby, I went on the Taylors Hill Walk, which was a short loop trail that climbed to a nice view of the river valley below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_035302025-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-541\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_033227967-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View from Taylors Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We returned to the cabin and grilled ribeye steaks for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"829\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-1024x829.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-542\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-1024x829.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-300x243.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-768x621.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-1536x1243.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-2048x1657.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_050034057-1200x971.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ribeye steak, cole slaw, and potato salad for dinner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I spent some time watching the local farm animals that were roaming around in their pens directly across from our cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-543\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_043309741-80-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gary on the left, Harry in the center, and Kentucky the chicken<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-544\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260202_044143041-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Melinda and Belinda: twin goat sisters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There was no sunset or glow worm viewing for us since it started raining shortly before dark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>February 2, 2026 The morning was heavily overcast with occasional sprinkles. We drove into town and decided to visit The National Kiwi Centre. We spent a couple of hours indoors viewing different varieties of fish, turtles, frogs, huge eels, and two kiwi birds. We were there for the morning eel feeding, and I had the &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/02\/2026-day-11-hokitika-and-kumara\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \"2026 Day 11 Hokitika and Kumara\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4","category-new-zealand"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=523"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1918,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions\/1918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}