Leader: David Blunt
It was a 6am start from the Millers carpark for 3 early risers plus 2 more from Marybank for the 2.25 hr drive to Clifford Bay 45 km south of Blenheim. At Marfells Beach camping ground we were joined by 2 more members, Gail & Graeme, who had stayed there overnight in their camper van.
Our party of 7 set off along the beach on a receding tide for what proved to be an easy 1.5 hour stroll, following the coastline south for 7 kms. It was an overcast day, ideal for walking, if not for photography and we got our first glimpse of the imposing lighthouse when we rounded Mussel Point. Some interesting rock and sandstone formations were sighted on the way, etched out by tidal erosion.
Robert managed to climb up and sit astride a slippery, pointy-capped one with the assistance of a large piece of driftwood propping as a ladder.The grey, clay-like structure was further eroded by his efforts leaving muddy deposits on his legs, but it was worth it to be 'king of the castle'. At the base of the lighthouse was the cute wee keeper's cottage with several other baches nearby. We stopped here for a break and a general fossick around then headed up the steps to the lighthouse at the southernmost extremity of Cook Strait.
The lighthouse is the main feature of Cape Campbell with its wide black bands making it more visible against the white siltstone cliffs behind it. It is a 22m high cast iron tower replacing an earlier wooden one which was first lit in 1870. The light flashes every 15 seconds and can be seen from a distance of 19 nautical miles (35 kms).In 1986 it was automated and demanned and is now controlled from Wellington. It features on a postage stamp produced by NZ Post for the Blenpex stamp exhibition from a photo taken by Ruth Hesselyn not long before her untimely death on the Mt Arthur range last year.
Peering through the windows at the base we spotted the original lens resting on the floor inside. There were some good views to be had so we clambered up the white, siltstone cliffs that stretched back the way we had come then dropped steeply down to the beach on the other side of the cape. Returning to the picnic tables outside the baches, we stopped for a leisurely lunch then retraced our steps back along the beach to the DOC campsite. Graeme raced back to the campervan to put a brew on and Gail served up a very welcome cup of tea and gingernuts while we relaxed outside and admired the view of the Norfolk Pines below and the sweep of the bay. A fitting end to the trip and a great day out.
The beacon-seeking, beachcombing bounders and browsers were David Blunt, Uta Purcell, Marie Lenting, Gail & Graeme Malinosky (hospitality), Robert Wopereis (WTC) and Bruce Alley (scribe).