The roadsides were bedecked with beautiful wildflowers, each frantically blooming and desperately trying to reproduce in the warmth before the bleak Winter returns. There were deep valleys with tall beech forests coating the steep mountain sides, and the tumbling clear water of broad pebbly streams.
Then on to the wild seas that pounded the dramatic rocky West coast and the legendary Kiwi wind-chill-factor that whistled around our bared knees and elbows. New Zealand fur seals were seen lounging on protected boulders and soaking up the warm Sun and sea birds swooped and swirled above us as the chilly foul winds of Cape Foulwind howled around us.
This was a particularly scenic day where we encountered stately mature native forests (not just the pretty regrowth of the East coast) and stunningly beautiful views. It was wonderful to soak up the shade of the tall trees and to wander along the banks of fast moving rivers.
The further South we travelled the more dramatic the scenery got, the trees were bigger, the forests denser, the rivers broader and the ocean more spectacular. The pounding waves on the craggy rocks and the wide clean beaches were very beautiful. The chill wind was difficult to cope with for these poor soft tourists from the tropics, but it all added to the drama.
(Click the photos to full-screen them)
Wow! Beautiful. I can see myself living out my days in that kind of country. Sure, it’s cold… but with global warming, perhaps not for long…
Awesome, that’s my memory of the South Island, and we were there in your winter! Xx
Ariki falls – ha ha thanks! Ariki certainly does fall.
Sigh – so beautiful.
When I saw the name on a map we went there especially for you. I couldn’t get down to the falls through the bush (foot issues) but Rod clambered down a steep embankment to take a photo.
Amazing scenery!