Life on the Road in New Zealand's South Island

We racked up more miles on buses in four months in South America than anyone should in a lifetime. Nevertheless, we were planning on tackling New Zealand in the same manner before being convinced by a number of travelers that getting our own car was the way to go. It’s the best decision we’ve made in this country. Just being freed from the Traveling Problem Child Corollary to Murphy’s Law validates the decision, let alone the added scheduling flexibility and ability to get to places the buses do not travel.  But our favorite feature is that we can pull over whenever we see something interesting.  New Zealand is incredibly beautiful, and much of that beauty is easily accessible from the road.  Aside from the picture from the ferry, every picture in this post was taken within an hour's walk from the road, and most were within much shorter walks than that.

While Magge watched American Idol last night, I broke open my writing book, which I packed in my bag all the way back in November, for the first time on this trip.  I was attempting to pull together everything we've done on the South Island so far into an interesting narrative.  I don't know if it was the terrible singing on TV or simply my own ineptitude, but I failed.  My three pages of chicken scratch were boring, which isn't representative of our time here, and I decided it would be better to rely on some of our pictures from the road.

A quick summary of our South Island road trip:

• Ferry from Wellington on the North Island to Picton on the South Island
• Four hour drive from Picton to Christchurch, passing through Kaikoura.  There were incredible views at every turn, but I had a hard time getting Magge to watch - she would raise her eyes from her iPod just long enough to perfunctorily mutter, "yeah, that's beautiful."  It was like traveling with a 14 year old.
• Two nights in Christchurch, where we couchsurfed (Magge will explain more later) with Deschia and Daniel, a young couple that gave us our first, and last, taste of Vegemite and Marmite.  Being asked which one I like better is like asking me if I'd prefer to die from drowning or being burned alive.  The answer is that I'd prefer drowning or being burned alive to eating Vegemite or Marmite again.
• Four hour drive to Lake Tekapo, a glacier lake in the Southern Alps.
• Day trip to Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park
• Five hour drive to Hikotika, on the West Coast, through Arthur's Pass in the Alps.
• Day trip to Punakaiki
• Three hour drive to the glacier region.  We quickly stopped at Franz Josef Glacier, and hiked on Fox Glacier today, which will get its own story later, if American Idol doesn't interfere.

 Crossing the Cook Straight on the ferry

Beach off the highway, close to Kaikoura

 Beautiful Lake Tekapo

Mt. Cook, New Zealand's tallest mountain

Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park

Us and the motley crew we drove from Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook.  The 12 year old-looking kid on the left was our roommate, and Magge offered to take him to the park if he chipped in for gas (his other option was a $55 bus ride).  By the time we left, two more stragglers added themselves to our party.  Sounds awkward, but turned out to be a great day.

 Icebergs from Tasman Glacier in Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park

Church of the Good Sheppard on Lake Tekapo

 

 Rakaia Gorge, passed on the way from Lake Tekapo to Hikotika

 Our Pegasus, a Nissan Sunny, parked in front of one of New Zealand's many one lane bridges, near Arthur's Pass

Arthur's Pass is supposed to be spectacular, but this is all the weather allowed us to see

Finding cool rocks on Hikotika beach

 Driving along the coastal highway north of Hikotika

The "Pancake Rocks" of Punakaiki

Taken on a small beach near Punakaiki.  The camera was put on a timer, and I ran out to stand with Magge.  A large wave approached, and I wasn't interesting in getting my shoes and socks soaked.  Magge, in her sandals, decided to tough out the cold water.  We didn't attempt this picture again.

 Hikotika Gorge, about thirty minutes from the town of Hikotika

Franz Josef Glacier