Day Eight - Greymouth via Arthur's Pass to Hari Hari

The routine is that we have our suitcases outside the door by 7-00, go down for breakfast, back to our rooms to collect our day bags and on the bus at 8 o'clock. So far it has worked well.

We left Greymouth in steady rain and headed off up to Arthur's Pass. The weather cleared as we travelled. Lovely farmland, some interesting rivers, and very beautiful bush which changed in character as we ascended.

As always, Ellen gave an interesting commentary on places of interest. She loves her job, that is very obvious, she is very much a "people person" is constantly patient - with 48 rather aged citizens (Anne is not in that number) she needs to be, and answers all questions with unfailing good humour. Our driver, Wayne is a delight to travel with. Careful, considerate - he pauses frequently to allow traffic held up by us to pass.

We reached Arthur's Pass for morning tea. One moment it would be sunny through the clouds, next moment light rain was upon us. While others indulged in morning tea, we virtuously walked the main street. Found a small chapel built in 1955 (now there's a good year) after several years of fund-raising. Very plain, but once inside the view from the altar window is spectacular - the most glorious waterfall coming down. 

                                            The Arthur's Pass Chief Post Office

Arthur's Pass Church with detached bell tower

View from the altar window

We came over the Otira Gorge Road Viaduct on the way up, then stopped at the viewing platform on the return. What an amazing achievement. We loved driving beside the river, and looking out for lots of waterfalls of varying sizes. it is also nice to see unspoiled native bush for a change, instead of pine forests or mines everywhere. 

Otira Gorge Rail Viaduct

At Hokitika we stopped for lunch. Yet another small town we would love to spend more time in, full of old buildings for me to drool over. After a delicious whitebait fritter (this being the whitebait capital of NZ, so they told us), I found a rather nice greenstone pendant and indulged myself, this being something I have been looking for for many years, then when we reassembled at the bus, we were herded on to some steps for a group photo (available to purchase at the end of the tour). 

We passed through Ross, which is evidently NZ's richest town, sitting on an estimated one million ounces of gold, and with open-cast mines in several places. From 1865 to 1914 it was the most productive goldmine town in NZ, and has produced the largest nugget ever found. 

Our stop for the night was reached about 4 pm. The tiny 'village' of Hari Hari has one claim to fame, and that is that Australian aviator Guy Lambton Menzies made the first solo crossing of the Tasman Sea in an aircraft previously flown to Australia by Charles Kingsford Smith. Smith made the first ever Trans-Tasman flight in 14hrs 15m, but with a companion. 

Menzies left from Sydney and aimed for Blenheim, but was blown off-course, and attempted to land in a field just outside Hari Hari. However he had not noticed the flax growing there, which caught his wheels and flipped the plane upside down. Fortunately he survived, and beat Charles Smith's record by two and a half hours making 'landfall' in 11hrs 45m.  We visited the building where the town have erected a copy of the plane and model of the pilot, with a memorial to him before cruising back 100 yards or so to the Hari Hari Motor Inn. 

Before dinner we took a walk to the local Cemetery because Anne gets quite scratchy unless she gets a regular Headstone fix

I doubt either of us will forget the incredible hospitality shown to us all at this hotel. The proprietors took over the hotel last November and are working VERY hard to build up the Bus Tour Trade.

 

The dining table with its lovely linen cloths and nice candle sticks

The dessert table with the most amazing selection of goodies - and still more to arrive

I cannot begin to describe the variety of food and the exquisite tastes. Far, far too much but we hear that he is nailing down the bus tour business and they are becoming very popular.