2017 Return to New Zealand

#6  Haast to Te Anau Some small frustration with getting photos from our phone to our computer has eased a bit although we still are not getting them all.  But here are some pictures and thoughts from a few days ago. We drove from Haast, on the west coast of the south island over some passes into the Queenstown area.  Four years ago we took a bit of a different route from south to north.  This was an easier drive and we saw some scenery we hadn't before. And yet the beauty was similar with mountains and clear blue lakes.  We decided that we would stop in Queenstown for a cuppa.  That was a mistake.  Four years ago when we visited this city, we were not thrilled.  It seemed too crowded, too many people.  So we wanted to give it another chance.  However, part way into the city, the traffic was already backed up: about 2 km.  We found a car park, got out, started walking, and were in a mass of people.  Found a public toilet...

#5  Picton to Nelson to Barrytown; Leaving the Marlborough Region for the West Coast Leaving Picton we followed the Queen Charlotte highway.  With its twists and turns we played peek-a-boo with the gorgeous views of the Marlborough straits.  So many secluded cabins and homes, accessible only by boat.     In Nelson, we happened upon a museum that housed a collection of the World of Wearable Art and Classic Autos.  Yes, really.  We heard that it was worth the stop, but we were skeptical.  But once inside, we were mesmerized by the wearable art and the many examples. Both Patsy and I would love to attend the real show.  It is other worldly.    Then after a good bit of time looking and watching, we went through a par of doors into yet another world of cars.  Beautifully restored and cared-for collection of classic cars.   We had not left enough time to really see it all....

#4   A Day of Driving, Panic, Hurry to Wellington and Wait, then Ahhhh, Cruising to Picton Truly a day on contrasts in emotion.  We started off in plenty of time to drive from Napier to Wellington to catch our 5 pm ferry to Picton, South Island.  The trip started easy enough with kilometers upon kilometers of vineyards.  One could never do a decent wine tasting even in a week.   The road flat.  They have very, very few highways as we know them, like interstates or four or six lane highways; only around a few very large cities, like Aukland, Wellington, or Christchurch.  Almost all the major state highways and roads across the islands are two lanes, one in each direction.  From time to time there are pull offs or passing lanes to maneuver around slower traffic.  I think I'm beginning to drive like a Kiwi, heading around those slower tourists.  Also interesting are the one lane bridges, all along the highways, you look fo...

#3   Napier – Art Deco Brings Life It was a bright, sunny, and hot day in Napier, February 3, 1931.  A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck, catching everyone by surprise.  Building collapsed, water mains burst, fires started, which because of the water main bursting, could not be put out.  The city was in ruins, hundreds lost their lives.   As one poet put it, “even the walls of the destroyed buildings held their hands up in surprise”.  The determined people decided that when they rebuilt, it would be in Art Deco Style.  And so they did.   Another interesting geological event that took place during the earthquake, was that what was previously water islands, and swamp surrounding the city, had now risen about 7 feet, making thousands of acres of land where there was none. Due  east of Napier is Chile. In the morning Patsy and I took a small tour of wine tas...