SOUTH ISLAND HOLIDAY
JANUARY 2005

Part 1 - West Coast to Southern Lakes

Tuesday, January 4th, 2005, we crossed to the South Island on the 8am sailing of the Lynx and headed via Blenheim to the West Coast for the start of our 19-day South Island holiday.

Summer to that point hadn't been all that great, with December having gone down as the coolest in 60 years! Our first four days on the West Coast were a mixture of cloudy days and rain at times, with mild temperatures. By the time the weekend had rolled around we were at Wanaka where it still wasn't overly-summery. So far the sun screen hadn't been used. We based ourselves at Arrowtown (19kms from Queenstown) for the next five days and, at long last, experienced 'decent holiday weather'. On our day trip from to Milford Sound the following weekend the low cloud had returned along with drizzle and the occasional downpour - Milford isn't known as the wettest place in New Zealand for nothing! Dunedin usually sees a certain number of warm summer days, but we didn't in our three days there. It was windy and cold, but Christchurch compensated with two days of beach weather (not shown on these pages), with temperatures around 30 degrees.

We got to see old gold- and coalmining towns, glaciers, rivers & lakes, seals, albatrosses and yellow-eyed penguins along the way, as well as enjoying gondola, luge, jet boat and cruise boat rides. Not overlooking one of us getting to do her first bungy jump! It was a good time away in what is, for a holidaymaker, the 'best' part of this country.

To go to part 2, click here.


Tuesday January 4
Lunch stop at Lake Rotoiti on a less-than-sunny day - en route from Blenheim to Westport.		 Travelling through the scenic Buller Gorge, nearing Westport.
At the Coaltown Museum in Westport - this coal wagon was used on the nearby 'Denniston Incline' and shows the actual angle at which the wagons descended the hill. Wednesday January 5
North of Westport, getting into relatively isolated territory.
Heading up the actual (now disused) Denniston Incline north of Westport - progress is impeded by this bridge having collapsed into the gully. At the top of the Denniston Incline (eight kilometres up by road) - this was once a flourishing coalmining operation.
Becca and the weka. Members of the seal colony at Cape Foulwind.
The very pleasant coastline as we head towards Punakaiki - this is looking back, as the sea was actually on our right as we drove south. Continuing to head south.
At Punakaiki - the famous Pancake Rocks, but as the tide was out we weren't getting any 'blowhole' effects. Still at Punakaiki - more of the rugged coastline.
At the edge of the highway near Punakaiki. Approaching Greymouth from the north.
Beach at Greymouth in the evening - Southern Alps in the distance, with very little cloud cover. Thursday January 6
A visit to Shantytown outside Greymouth - set up to show life as it was in gold and coalmining days.
The main street of Shantytown. Rather humble quarters at Shantytown.
Panning for gold at Shantytown - everyone's guaranteed to find a little. The 'Gold Express' will be leaving Shantytown shortly!
Friday January 7
A 45-minute walk in the rain to the foot of the Franz Josef Glacier - currently advancing almost three metres per day.		 At the foot of the glacier itself - it was raining quite heavily at this poin.t
The glacier - the true scale is shown by the size of the sign at bottom right. Saturday January 8
Lake Matheson with a view of Mt Cook - pretty setting despite the low cloud.
A view of Fox Glacier. One of several one-lane suspension bridges on the West Coast.
Just past the township of Haast (south Westland) as we're heading towards the Haast Pass. Further on - a view down to the river from another old-style bridge.
In the Haast Pass - boundary between Otago and Westland. Sunday January 9
Lake Wanaka - Glendhu Bay Motor Camp in the distance.
Puzzling World in Wanaka - Nicola propping up a tower which has developed a serious lean. Puzzling World - Rebecca, at right, seems to have got smaller than the others in this shot (or is it an illusion?)
Monday January 10
Heading towards the Crown Range road - the famous old Cardrona hotel.		 View from the hills above Arrowtown - this region is, in the opinion of some, the most picturesque in the country.
Click here for a large version of this one (1000 x 735 - 217KB)


See South Island holiday - part 2
See South Island holiday - observations

Page compiled by Malcolm Sparrow - late January 2005