Arthurs by The Sea

"Land of the long, white cloud" Documenting my journey through Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia on the way to New Zealand where I will be for a year(?!)...

... framed by mountain slopes covered with lush vegetation, following river beds with shining turquoise waters searching its way to the sea, and diving into numerous tunnels drilled into surrounding mountains, this TranzAlpine train ride is arguably one of ...

... first section took us up the coast and we stopped for lunch at Hokitika, the town was slightly uninspiring but we took lunch by the sea and had a look around the national Jade factory and shop - this was pleasant but not good enough to warrant buying any ...

... ;Anyway, we were both happy to make it to the top and took some time to have a snack and enjoy the view before coming down.   And it was a long way down... over 900 m of downhill was ...

... Brunner – pretty and crystal clear reflecting the surrounding mountains, no doubt rammed with tourists in summer but deserted in winter - we arrived in Greymouth in time for a bracing walk along the beach and to see the sunset over the Tasman ...

... melissa thought was a lesbian. But we were wrong.. Our radar is off here. We took some beautiful pictures which I will load in by mid week. Another great stop. We miss you! More to come soon... Tasman sea, kayaking, climbing a glacier... Check back ...

... and shivering a little from the cold, a little from homesickness. But somehow the winking light on the trees and the sea and the way the peninsular arched around like an arm embracing the ocean, made it feel like everything was all right. Quite a serene ...

... coast, where we had to opportunity to view some very impressive scenery. Huge mountains, covered with dense forests, reaching out to the sea at impressive slopes.  The sea waters have a beautiful blue colour, with massive waves reaching the shore in ...

... opened so we got pretty soaked as we scrabbled back across the rocks to the van. At the time we didn't know, but as long as you don't get between a seal and the sea you are OK as they have an escape route.  They also stink.  Of rotting ...

... is making me say "apostles" again! We finally arrive at pancake rocks. They look a bit like Bryce Canyon emerging from the sea. Million of years ago, they were under water. The pancake rock effect is created by immense pressure on alternating hard ...

... just north of Greymouth where they had these amazing coastal cliffs that were shaped like layers of pancakes and had blow holes where the sea rushed in and its spray was launched into the air. So, as we were heading in that general direction we decided ...

... to Hokitika. The sun pours out of the sky in front of us, lighting river beds and the diminishing shoulders of the alps. We stop frequently to gape at the tapestries unfolding about us, yet still manage to make Hokitika before the sun plunges into the ...

... once again, we got the full tail on show in another deep sea dive. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight, the sea as blue as sapphire and the mountains providing a hazy backdrop to an incredible experience. The whale was larger than anything ...

... the Austrian Emporor. The Franz Josef and nearby Fox glaciers are unique bacause nowhere else have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude, and its all to do with prevailing rain drenched westerlies falling as snow higher up the ...

... Having bought some more fine vinatges we headed up to Picton to check in to our new home and scoffed chish and fips by the sea - still no vinegar though - really must buy some!! Our Picton stay included walking some of the Queen Charlotte track (bonus ...

... Saturday drove thropugh Arthurs Pass, we were hoping to get the car's top down as the sun warmed up but as soon as we got past Arthurs the clouds loomed down on us and the sun was no more! We stoped off in Hokitika once we hit the west coast, where we ...

... to the pancake rocks to see if I could get some pictures of them in a better light, and without the seaspray upsetting my lens.  The sea was still quite high and was dramatic at times on the rocks.  I wasn't hungry when I got back, but everyone ...

... By afternoon we reached Dunedin, spent sometime at the lookout points, and watching penguins in the wild returning from the sea and walking up the beach!!  For the night we were a bit unsure as to where to camp and were asking for ...

... ate so much I worried I might sink when I got in the water! We remembered our underwater camera this time and headed into the sea. We had a few hours to snorkel and rest on a beach, which was only a short swim away. The ...

... and in a group of six we were guided by a local Kiwi bloke that ended every sentence with "Eh?" and called all the men "Bro'". The sea was very calm in the morning, but as we crossed the "crazy mile", things got a bit choppy and Lynsey was especially ...