Sunday 6 April, Nelson off the Tasman Sea

Fishing on the South Island is supposed to very good so Paul decided to try a bit on his own. A nearby river looked good on the earth maps so after getting a day license, off he went passing through scattered rain showers. In the meantime, Bev, Jan, and Mike set off for some hiking on their own.
 
Upon arriving, it looked as if most of the river was bordered by farmland and was fenced in—with electric fencing. This Preserve looked to be a promising entrance.

From the four meter bluff above the Wakapuaka River, things looked less promising. The water was discolored a cloudy green, and the plastic bag six feet in the air above the water were not a good signs.

Sliding down a muddy six foot river bank, the fresh erosion was evident by the clumps of dirt. Also telling was the grasses that were all laid down in a downstream direction.

Downstream, on a ridge about two meters above water level, was this bush that captured debris from an apparently recent flood event. It was piled up an additional meter. That means that the water was recenty about three meters higher.
 
As far as the fishing, there were obvious places where fish might be, but after casting for a couple of hours, I didn't get any indication that fish were near. So it goes.

Bev, Jan and Mike hiked up a hill near the center of Nelson that purports to be the geographic center of New Zealand. Would this also be Middle Earth? Signpost to the Centre.

This bromeliad on the way seems to capture the Fibonacci sequence.

After a walk up of more than an hour through rain and sprinkles, Mike and Jan pose at the top of the Centre of New Zealand.

View of Nelson and the Tasman Bay from the top. The place we're staying is down there somewhere.

At the Nelson Catholic Church was this gargoyle hanging from a wall.

Before returning back to our rental, Bev couldn't ignore this business building. I wonder if there is any relationship?