Clowning Around NZ & Australia: Hokitika Wild Foods Festival

Greeting all, I’ve fired up the old blog again!

This time I head down the West Coast to take in the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival, its been running for many years, but this was my first experience.

But first the trip down through Murchison and Reefton.

I’m also testing out a new phone, (a Samsung S21 Utra) which has a superb camera and is a huge step up in technology!

On the way to Reefton is the Inagahua River

A brief stop in Reefton to stretch the legs and wander a bit!

My favourite park up in Greymouth is by the Surf Club, it’s no longer available, new signage within the last two months, this means I have to park nearer to town by the Speedway, surrounded by sliders

However I was on my way to the Hokitika Wild Food Festival.....in....you guessed it ...Hokitika!

But from the road I saw a photographic opportunity and doubled back to spend some time at the Taramakau River Rail bridge, which was undergoing some maintenance.

Below is not how they have twisted the Rail bridge, but a trick called a Panorama shot

After the bridge my attention went to the Railway tracks themselves.

Some of these bolts were loose, buy I didn’t happen to have a large spanner in my pocket at the time.

Going into Hokitika on Wild Foods day the police were breathalizing everyone at 10.30am, with the event starting at 11am and going till 7pm this seemed a waisted effort.

Later I was returning to Greymouth at 9pm on the same day and did not see any breath testing going on leaving Hokitika, however I did see the police inside the Festival handing out free bottles of water and commend them for that good move!

Going into the event, this lady complete with a mini whitebait net, was a hint of what would be going on inside the Festival.

The institution know as the Kokatahi Band were already in fine form as the Que built waiting to get in!

There were many wild foods on offer (if you had the gumption to taste them)

Theses are locust, grown (or so I was told) in Central Otago...????

Next on the list of delicacy’s was Huhu grubs

But first the hard work of getting them.

I wasn’t game to give them a go.........

And of course the Iconic West Coast Whitebait Patties

I choose a spiced Nanny Goat West Coast pie and a cider!

Also on offer was three shots of Jed’s Brew out of a drench gun

These ladies from St Mary’s certainly had a sense of humour.....

A blessed ball wouldn’t melt in this ladies mouth.

It was not only a wild food event, as they were also running a wild wearable art judging event.

Below are the Judges...I believe!

Here is a bone headed lady....there are quite a few of these around!

Toi toi’s headwear...nice!

Nikau Palm fronds, put to good use!

Wild ...is right!

This guy was emptying the portal loos.... and having a running commentary with a bunch of rugby guys

Classic West Coast humour at its best

A photographer lady came along and got the Rugby guys back in order and all in line for a team photo

Team Hoki...was not too Hoki when it came to lineout practice

There were bands playing all day

The seagulls found a great perch

I was told after this event out on the streets of Hokitika would be a Buskers paradise.

Being a newbie to this event I started busking outside the Toursit Information centre 15 minutes before the festival closed.

This was mistake from me as most of the crowd left earlier, however this was by far my best hat and I had a great time too!

Later I went to view the sunset and busk down by the Hokitika beach with its iconic driftwood sculpture.

People dragged firewood from all over the beach and playing in front of a crowd of people around the fire was a great ways to end the Festival and the day.