Thursday, Jan 1st -- Happy New Year! We started the day trying to find some place to have breakfast in Hokitika, the small town we were staying in on the West Coast. We found a place open called Adz on Tancread that had an enormous collection of teapots on the walls -- the food was good too. So with happy stomachs, we started our drive back to Christchurch over Arthur's Pass.
Marlene got a chance to drive on the left side of the road.
A little too much commenting by the front seat passenger and Marlene's turn at the wheel was soon over.
Another typical sight along our journey: someones goat chained up to a tree next to the road so it can browse and watch traffic.
Arthur's Pass takes you from Greymouth on the west coast over the Southern Alps to Christchurch on the east coast. There is a striking difference between the habitats on either side of the main divide. To the west is mixed podocarp rainforest and red-flowering rātā, with a luxuriant understorey of shrubs, ferns and mosses. Mountain beech dominates the eastern slopes. The mountains themselves are beautiful but strangely bald. The tree line here on the Southern Alps is at only 4000 ft elevation compared to over 10,000 ft in Rocky Mtn National Park back in Colorado. It has to do with being so close to the ocean.
Arthur’s Pass National Park is in the heart of the Southern Alps. Its high mountains straddle the main divide – the ‘back bone’ of the South Island – between Canterbury and the West Coast. We just did a quick walk around took photos but there are many, many hikes and tramps in the area that look interesting. Unfortunately, we didn't have the time this trip. Back on the road to Christchurch.
Marlene got a chance to drive on the left side of the road.
A little too much commenting by the front seat passenger and Marlene's turn at the wheel was soon over.
Another typical sight along our journey: someones goat chained up to a tree next to the road so it can browse and watch traffic.
Arthur's Pass takes you from Greymouth on the west coast over the Southern Alps to Christchurch on the east coast. There is a striking difference between the habitats on either side of the main divide. To the west is mixed podocarp rainforest and red-flowering rātā, with a luxuriant understorey of shrubs, ferns and mosses. Mountain beech dominates the eastern slopes. The mountains themselves are beautiful but strangely bald. The tree line here on the Southern Alps is at only 4000 ft elevation compared to over 10,000 ft in Rocky Mtn National Park back in Colorado. It has to do with being so close to the ocean.
Arthur’s Pass National Park is in the heart of the Southern Alps. Its high mountains straddle the main divide – the ‘back bone’ of the South Island – between Canterbury and the West Coast. We just did a quick walk around took photos but there are many, many hikes and tramps in the area that look interesting. Unfortunately, we didn't have the time this trip. Back on the road to Christchurch. 
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