Thursday, Nov 17th, Christchurch


Greetings!

For the second time, we drove coast to coast across the width of New Zealand in one day.  This time, it was from Hokitika to Christchurch.  Arthur's Pass was another example of a national commitment to transportation.  Originally created to facilitate the transport of gold from the west coast of New Zealand to the Eastern shipping ports in 1885, it now supports the transport of milk. 


On our way out of Hokitika, we hiked up the Hokitika Gorge.  The most turquoise water you've ever seen comes down the Hokitika River from the mixture of Granite Rock flour chemicals and mountain river water.   From the swaying bridge across it, we saw a white-faced heron nesting, and a wika on the trail and in the parking lot.





The last amazing stop we made coming down from the pass was Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti).  A completely mystical collection of limestone remnants from the collision of the New Zealand and Pacific plates about 25 million years ago lies atop the low hills coming down from Arthur's Pass.   A rugged circular hike up and around the site ends with a beautiful native prayer to hikers from the Ngai Tahu Maori Tribe.

To see the photos taken today, click on: Thursday, Nov 17th, Christchurch.


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