Blogs from Hokitika, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

Thursday 9th October After an early start we were in Hokitika just as the shops were opening. Before we went into town we stopped at the river entrance and looked back over the ranges to the east. The cloud had lifted a little and we could see some snow-capped mountains. On a clear day apparently you can see all the alps including Mt Cook. Just doesn't seem that we are going to see this icon on this trip! Hokitika is known for its NZ jade, originally called greenstone by the Maoris, and there are many shops selling the end product. After looking through many of them (as Judy tends to do) we had chosen a birthday present for Rags' mum and a pendant for Judy. We then came across a shop where customers are free to ... read more

We survived the ferry from Wellington to Picton. The water was calm, thank goodness. Sometimes that waterway gets up to 8 meter swells, so we were lucky! We spent the night in Blenheim with Gonzalo at the backpackers in town. There were people from all over the world. It was so much fun and brought me back right back to the good old days in South America. We ate Thai food with Gonzalo, again, and ran around town with a bunch of people from Brazil and Israel. Good times. This morning we drove from Blenheim through the mountains, through to Greymouth and finally settled down here in Hokitika. We are leaving early in the morning to find the glaciers and hike them, then we are off to Wanaka for some more skiing. Again, we can't post ... read more

Vuokraamon mies tuli noutamaan minut kymmenelta. Harmikseni aurinkolasieni toinen sanka irtosi, mutta onnekseni ehdin korjauttaa sen viela optikolla. Klo 11 lahdin ajamaan kaupungista poispain. Vasemmalla ajaminen oli yllattavan helppoa. Alkumatka oli tasaista maastoa. Sitten maisemat jyrkkenivat. Yllattavan helppoa oli silti ajaa vuoristossa. Piti vain pysytella omalla kaistalla ja paastin kiireisempia ohi. Majoituin lansirannikolla pikkukaupunkiin. Monet paikat menevat jo kiinni aikaisin, onhan alkamassa paasiaisviikonloppu.... read more

Sathy a quitte la NZ ce matin... moi je suis toute perdue... et toute triste... j'ai prit l'avion pour rejoindre Sara. Un gros tout d'abord pour atteindre l'ile du Sud et Christchurch, puis un tout petit (on etait 4 dedans ce morceau de feraille!) qui a traverse les Alps NZ tout en tremblant!!! Et voila, je me retrouve a Hokitika, petite bourgade de 4000 habitants, la mer, le soleil qui est revenu et apparement, une capitale de la jade. Je me suis retrouvee a l'aeroport (si on peut appeller ca ainsi...) toute perdue, personne, au milieu de nul part, ne sachant pas vers quelle direction aller, le numero du backpacker ne fonctionne pas, on me dit que la ville est a 5kms (alors que le Lonely Planet n'en mentionnait que 700metres...!) il fait chaud, mon sac ... read more

27th January 2008 Today we left Rangiora and travelled through the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass to Hokitika. We seemed to be travelling in the opposite direction to a group on a motorcycle rally. Apparently 2000 motorcyclists had met in Hokitika and were having a ride out across Arthur's Pass. As one of the motorcyclists said to us “it is an awesome ride”. We stopped several times in the mountains for Dinah to take pictures but I think it would be very difficult to capture the grandeur of these mountains. We had a forgettable cup of coffee in Kumara and an even more forgettable sandwich. Then we pressed on to Hokitika where we are stopping for the night in a very pleasant beachside motel. Straight out of the back door and onto the beach. This beach ... read more