A Week on New Zealand’s South Island

Let’s be honest. Not every trip is magical, not every place turns out to be what you expected.  The trick is to enjoy the moment, to be grateful, and to appreciate what is there.

We knew that a week wouldn’t be long enough to see much, so we were resigned to making it a highlights tour. At least we would get a sense of the place. 

Arriving in Christchurch and ending in Queenstown, we picked out a few South Island highlights and tried to create an itinerary that hit as many of them as possible, mostly along the west coast. Nope. July is winter in New Zealand, and the forecast for the west coast was RAIN, all week. We wouldn’t melt, but why put yourself through that when there are viable alternatives? So we adjusted. 

In addition to skipping some of the “must see” locations (the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the west coast), we soon eliminated others (Milford Sound, the albatross colony near Dunedin) once we realized that we just didn’t have time to fit them in and still travel at a comfortable pace. Then I discovered that the landscape was not what I had expected. In my imagination New Zealand was lush and green and almost tropical, and whether because of the locations we chose or the weather or the time of year, it wasn’t. Not that it wasn’t beautiful, it just wasn’t different. It looked a lot like places I’ve seen before, that didn’t require so much time and money to get to. And I felt guilty about feeling disappointed. Ah, that bit about gratitude and enjoying the moment. Marc is an expert; I’m still working on it. But stay tuned — this does end well!

Gorgeous, right?

It took me a few days to start to really appreciate what we were seeing. Expansive flat valleys surrounded by ranges of glacier-topped mountains. A rocky landscape that seems almost barren except for the golden grasses called tussock and occasional plantations of tightly packed pine trees, although up close there’s more than initially meets the eye—bushes and trees, leafless in the winter, were loaded with red berries, and beside the lakes the distinctive leaves of lupines were emerging low to the ground. Rivers like vast elaborate braids, running from distant white-capped mountains through flat, wide rocky beds into lakes made turquoise by rock flour from the glaciers.  Occasionally we found lush areas where water rushed through deep gorges. Looking back through my pictures, it’s hard to imagine disappointment at all!

This is sheep country. The sheep farms (known as stations) each comprise hundreds of square miles and tens of thousands of sheep. They spend the summer grazing the rocky slopes of the high country, and then are brought down to lower elevations for the winter where they can be more easily protected from the extreme weather of the mountains, and provided with supplemental food as needed.  
There are significant numbers of cattle as well.

Christchurch

Christchurch is a lovely town, population less than 400,000. The cathedral is a reminder of the devastating earthquake of 2010, a construction site in the middle of the square. Art is everywhere, in the form of street art and creative architecture. We skipped the very expensive tram ride and chose to just wander.  

There seems to be a greater respect and appreciations for the Maori people and culture here than there is for the native people in the United States, Canada, or Australia. The name of the country is always listed as Aotearoa New Zealand, with the Maori name first. The Maori language, Te Reo, is one of the official languages of New Zealand (along with English and New Zealand Sign Language.) You see it on signs, especially government signs and departments names; Kia Ora (hello, goodbye, thank you) was one of the first things I noticed at the airport. Many place names are Maori. I didn’t hear anyone speaking Te Reo around us, but at the airport I was fascinated by a Maori TV station. I was hungry to know more, though, and found little information other than at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch (which I highly recommend).

The Canterbury Museum offers an introduction to New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage. This Maori piece has paua (abalone) shells for eyes; we saw the shells everywhere, in both high end and cheap souvenir jewelry, and as standalone souvenirs.
The Christchurch Cathedral is still off limits, pending the completion of repairs to the damage from the 2010 earthquake.
At night, a thick layer of fog settled on the park-like botanical gardens. The adjacent street was lined by 21 lampposts, gifts from cities around the world as part of an art project called “Solidarity Grid“. The one in the foreground is from Wuhan, China. Almost directly across the street from our hotel window was the one from our hometown, Montreal.
We were struck by the amount of art in Christchurch, from murals to creative and colorful public seating arrangements, to artistic architecture.

Arthur’s pass

Since we had decided we wouldn’t be driving down the west coast, we thought we’d at least get a glimpse of it, taking the Arthur’s Pass road that cuts straight across the island. Guidebooks and web sites make a big deal about the potential for closure during bad winter weather, but although temps were freezing overnight the road was clear. There are a few spectacular views (see photo below), and some good hikes and waterfalls if you have time for them, but the round trip is really a bit much to do in one day especially if you want to be back by nightfall in the winter.

Hokitika

This was our one west coast stop, our destination after driving through Arthur’s pass. New Zealand had a gold rush in the 1860s, and it’s amazing how much the gold rush towns here resemble the ones in California, halfway around the world. Hokitika is known for its art galleries, although many of them were closed for a winter break. The area is also known for Pounamu or “New Zealand jade”, a green stone highly sought after by the Maori and available as pendants and other jewelery, from mass produced souvenirs to exquisite works by local artists. 

Hokitika sits right on the Tasman Sea, and its beach is famous for its driftwood.
This man made the best sandwich I have ever eaten. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The sign on the door of the Hokitika Sandwich Company says they’re open until 2pm or the food runs out. It was after 2:00, but he welcomed us in, adjusting the sandwiches according what he had left. And was lovely to chat with too!

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo seemed like a good place to stay for a couple of nights. It was almost sunset when we arrived, so photographs were priority one.

The little town, snug at one end of the lake, seems to be all about tourism, and the sky.  There are a few restaurants, a bunch of stores selling woolen goods and souvenirs, ticket offices for airplane and helicopter tours, a resort offering winter sports and hot springs, and a small village of homes.  The population is apparently under 400, but I’m sure I saw as many tourists, and it was low season! 

The iconic Church of the Good Shepherd overlooks the turquoise waters of the lake.

Tekapo is in the 4300 sq. km. Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only eight in the world. We passed on the expensive observatory tours but drove up to enjoy the café with a view, next to the telescope domes of the University of Canterbury’s Mt. John Observatory. 

And later that night, the skies cleared… while a telescope view must have been spectacular, to see so many stars and the milky way with the naked eye is a magical, awe-inspiring experience!

A few more images from Lake Tekapo…

Our second night at Tekapo was cloud-covered, but sunset still offered a beautiful view!

Aoraki Mt. Cook

A stop at Aoraki Mt. Cook (Aoraki means “cloud piercer”) seemed like it might make up for having skipped the mountains and glaciers on the west coast. This is where New Zealander Edmund Hillary honed his climbing skills. We booked a room in the village, which is in the national park and has a rustic ski/hiking resort feel. Mountains make their own weather, though, and the blue skies turned gray as we approached.

Approaching Aoraki Mt. Cook, the village is in the gap to the left of the mountain, the Tasman glacier in the gap to the right where you can see the rain coming in.

We hurried over to see the Tasman glacier before the rain came.

You can see the edge of the glacier at the far end of the lake; in the foreground, the terminal lake and moraine — rocks left in the wake of the receding glacier. The Tasman glacier, at 27 km/17 miles the longest in New Zealand, is receding quickly. In 1973 the terminal lake did not exist; by 2008 it was 7 km long. Nearby, three little pools, known as the Blue Lakes because the glacial water made them a stunning blue, are now green, fed only by rainwater and colored by algae.
An iceberg floats in the lake, evidence of climate change.

The next morning brought rain, dashing any hopes of hiking in the national park. So we moved on…

Twizel

Continuing South towards Queenstown, this little town — or at least, the town square — was one of our favorite places. Founded in 1968 as a home base for workers building the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme, Twizel now has a population of about 1200, and triple that during the summer. 

The town square seems to have everything you might need—including a coffee shop connected to the tiniest bookstore I’ve ever seen, staffed by one of the best booksellers I’ve ever met.  She completely understood my request for books that would give me a sense of New Zealand, and after a few questions pulled two books that really enhanced my understanding of the history, landscape, and culture, and my experience overall.   

Jake’s Hardware in Twizel was one of the most fun stores I’ve ever visited. Every inch of space is filled; in addition to “cycling, gardening, toys, games, pets, sports, gifts, camping, and fishing” as listed on the sign, Jake’s sells items for kitchen, home repair, sewing, stationery, and just about anything else you can think of. A wood stove in the back makes it feel like an old fashioned country store.

Omarama

Working our way south, we stopped to check out the clay cliffs near Omarama. From the main road, they’re hardly visible and you wouldn’t even look twice. But take the turnoff and hand painted signs (and Google Maps) direct you toward the hills, down a gravel road, through a gate you’re asked to swing closed behind you (it’s on private property), and around a bend until a small sign hanging from a chain tells you to walk from here.  I would not want to be here during rain; the clay seems soft, and erosion must happen quickly!

The contrast between the jagged, cream colored clay and the masses of red rose hips is striking.

Lindis pass

Maybe it was just my frame of mind, but I think the landscape became increasingly striking as we drove south. At least, my cries of “stop, I need to take a picture!” became more and more frequent!

Continuing south through Lindis Pass, the landscape is almost otherworldly, as though someone has folded the land into mountains.

Tarras

According to Wikipedia, the population of Tarras numbers 231.  The little center on the main road consists of a school, a gas station, a country café, and a couple of shops…  Blink and you’d miss it. But stop in at the café, browse the fine wool sweaters in the adjoining store, and watch the comings and goings. A group of young men chatted over a hearty breakfast, a few tourists came and went, and a handful of farmers in their muddy boots, sheepdogs in the back of their trucks, drank lattes at the picnic table outside. I bought a super soft Merino and possum wool sweater (yes, possum), and had a second coffee just so we could sit a little longer, until it started to rain.

A display in the store at Tarras. “This superfine fleece is from Bendigo station and is straight from the Merino sheeps back. The fleece is approximately 16 microns (the diameter of the fibre) and has a very even crimp. Every August the Merino sheep are mustered down from the high country to be shorn in the Bendigo station woolshed. When you touch the raw Merino wool you will feel a wax or grease on your hands. This is called lanolin and is the grease secreted by the glands of the sheep.”

Queenstown

Everyone I talked to LOVES Queenstown. Meh. It’s a nice town, but with a strong touristy apres-ski vibe that’s not our thing. The surrounding landscape, though, is gorgeous, and ourlittle rented cabin, just fifteen minutes away (up a twisty mountain road) was a haven in the woods, with a view of snow-capped peaks and another clear night for admiring the Southern Cross and other constellations we don’t see in the northern hemisphere.

So after a nice dinner in town and a wander through art galleries/souvenir shops, we were happy to spend the next day enjoying the cabin and doing a bit of exploring nearby.

The mountains near Queenstown are known as The Remarkables. A well-deserved name!
The view from the cabin (brought a little closer by a telephoto lens).

Arrowtown

Arrowtown, about a half hour from Queenstown, seemed like a good outing for the day.

On our way to Arrowtown we stopped at the Dart river, which flows through a deep gorge. Despite the chilly weather and threat of rain I would have loved a quiet boat ride to see more, but the jetboat tours offered held no appeal and after a short walk we drove on.

New Zealand’s gold rush story is very similar to that of the American west, including the experiences of the Chinese men who came to work the mines and encountered racism and hardship.  Although touristy, Arrowtown is a pretty place to learn about the history; the old miners’ cabins bring a bit of it to life.

The miners’ cabins are tiny and on a cold, rainy winter’s day you can imagine how uncomfortable they must have been.

Before we knew it, our week was done. In just a few days I went from trying to quell feelings of disappointment to being sad that our New Zealand trip was over so soon, snapping photographs from the airplane window in a last effort to capture the essence of the South Island landscape. I’d love to go back for a much longer visit.

Some things to know:

  • The speed limit is 100K (about 60mph). Through towns and on winding mountain passes you won’t even go that fast. So the distances are deceptive and travel takes longer than you’d expect. There’s also the danger of black ice in the winter, so if you’re not used to cold weather driving, be extra careful.
  • Gas is expensive. It was over $2 NZ per litre, working out to about $5.75 per US gallon.
  • They drive on the left side of the road.
  • In winter, the days are short. Sunrise about 8am, sunset at 5pm.

The books I enjoyed:

  • An Angel at my Table, by Janet Frame
  • The Bone Children, by Keri Hulme
  • Merino Country, by Paul Hersey and Derek Morrison

10 Responses

  1. Jill says:

    I loved reading your description of New Zealand and agree. Having grown up in Marin County I found it very similar but with sheep, lots of them. The most impressive aspect of the country to me was the way the Maoris are integrated into the country and treated with respect. We could learn a lot from them in our society. Loved your pictures, thanks for sharing.

  2. Anita Krakow says:

    Linda, your photos are up their with National Geographic, only more artistic. They certainly make NZ look like a magical place despite your initial disappointment. As for the description, the personal touch makes me feel like I’ve been there myself…
    Super job, Linda!

  3. Mimi Niemiller says:

    Loved the pictures. I think my favorite was the stars – something we just don’t see since we live in a city. Thanks for sharing your photos and your thoughts on the trip. It was enjoyable to read.

    • lkephoto says:

      Thanks Mimi! The stars were indeed spectacular. The camera does pull a bit more detail than my eyes were able to discern, although I wonder whether lying on my back in the dark for a while, to really get my eyes used to the dark, would have made a big difference.

  4. Darla says:

    Really really spectacular Linda!

  5. Vidyut says:

    Linda,
    Thank you! I’ve now discovered a great photographer and blogger in you! I’ve enjoyed reading about your adventures in NZ and viewing these beautiful pictures. You are amazing!!!

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