Hokitika Gorge
Just before the
turn-off to Arthur's Pass, Hokitika makes for a good stop to enjoy
the West Coast Feeling before heading inlands. Well, maybe not
directly at the coast, because the sandflies are still a problem
there – but the little town has it's charme with some old
buildings, museums and an undisturbed view at the sunset.
A little bit back
into the countryside it hides a real treasure: Hokitika Gorge, an
amazing river, spanned by a swingbridge and boasting with an
out-of-this-earth color. Similar to the stunning turquoise-blue of
Lake Tekapo. The river is fed by the Glaciers and colored by their
minerals. I almost couldn't believe it when I first rounded the
corner. New Zealand is just amazing.
The most popular
way over the alps (and supposedly the most beautiful) is Arthur's
Pass. Starting on the West Coast we had some misty-grey weather and
low hanging clouds wavering around the hills while we drove further
into the mountains.
It changed between
rain and sunshine from there, giving us some amazing views on the
peaks around the highway whenever the clouds opened up. On Arthurs
Pass you really feel like driving through the heart of the alps,
although the weather was nice and warm.
There is also a
railway line going parallel to the highway, one of the few in the
country that actually serves as “public transport” on a larger
scale, though I doubt people take it for anything other than the
views.
We met quite a few
Keas on the way, too and had a short stop at New Zealand's most
popular Bouldering area: Castle Hill.
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