New Zealand 1

Another day, another very different beach.  We have reached Hokitika, in South Island’s Westland. Overnight, there was a huge storm - thunder, lightning, torrential rain, the full works - and now there's just grey crashing waves, grey sand and great piles of grey driftwood looming out of grey sea-fog. Then finally, just at sunset, the sun manages to push through, an angry red gash on the horizon.  It could be straight out of Peter Jackson’s apocalyptic vision as the dark forces amass for the final battle. It seems like a metaphor for the news we've just been following on the US election.  Makes for some great pics though!

We arrived here the night before after a mammoth journey from Khao Lak, to Christchurch, where we picked up a car, and across the Great Divide via Arthur’s Pass, in the bright sunshine of a brilliant spring day.  This was a spectacular trip, first through neatly clipped farmland, then up into the gorges of the pass, the plant life all in the first flush of renewal, bright colours and fresh flowers, on empty roads. This crossing gets more spectacular with each turn, especially where it descends steeply on the west.  Stopping in a car park at the top of the pass, we found kea, the green/brown bullies of the parrot world, hanging out for whatever the camper vans throw out.  

The landscape is unique, a rich intertwined carpet of rainforest draped over the bones of NZ’s volcanic past. So we reached Hokitika, 24 hours after we set off, and found a pleasant little town of wide streets and single storey buildings, and friendly people.