My first trip to the South Island of New Zealand was fantastic. I did not see anywhere near enough of the Island. The place has enormous wow factor and a 3.5 hour drive from Christchurch to Holitika turned into a 6 hour drive because I had to keep stopping to admire the scenery.
Hokitika Gorge was a beautiful place to visit, even though it was rainy and I was wishing I had my hiking boots so I could have set out across the rocks to the waterfall I could see in the distance. I found some beautiful stones, one or two of which I think are Pounamu or Greenstone.
From Hokitika I drove along the West Coast where I discovered Pancake Rocks which was well worth stopping for a wander and another photo opporuntity.
Westport was wet and grey the day I visited so I headed for Nelson where I was attending the Australasain Facilitator's Network conference. There were more photo opportunities between Westport and Nelson. In Nelson I caught up with Monica, who I had met in 2007 at a Playback Theatre Summer School. It was a great night with singing and banjo playing and sharing food with her family and friends.
From there it was on to conference business. The creation team were a brilliant bunch to work with and we formed some deep connections. It was a meeting of souls as well as minds. The conference dinner dance was a great night and the band, recommended by Monica (Gecko) created the space for fun and dancing. The highlight had to be when Lewis Burns, a didgeridoo player from Wiradjuri country, jammed with the band and then joined them as they played a Doobie Bros song.
Unfortunately the trip back to Christchurch was a bit rushed as we wanted to get through Lewis Pass before dark. There are more photo opportunities waiting to be had there. And to think, I never got south of Christchurch to Glacier country or to the East Coast.. . . Next time
Hokitika Gorge was a beautiful place to visit, even though it was rainy and I was wishing I had my hiking boots so I could have set out across the rocks to the waterfall I could see in the distance. I found some beautiful stones, one or two of which I think are Pounamu or Greenstone.
From Hokitika I drove along the West Coast where I discovered Pancake Rocks which was well worth stopping for a wander and another photo opporuntity.
Westport was wet and grey the day I visited so I headed for Nelson where I was attending the Australasain Facilitator's Network conference. There were more photo opportunities between Westport and Nelson. In Nelson I caught up with Monica, who I had met in 2007 at a Playback Theatre Summer School. It was a great night with singing and banjo playing and sharing food with her family and friends.
From there it was on to conference business. The creation team were a brilliant bunch to work with and we formed some deep connections. It was a meeting of souls as well as minds. The conference dinner dance was a great night and the band, recommended by Monica (Gecko) created the space for fun and dancing. The highlight had to be when Lewis Burns, a didgeridoo player from Wiradjuri country, jammed with the band and then joined them as they played a Doobie Bros song.
Unfortunately the trip back to Christchurch was a bit rushed as we wanted to get through Lewis Pass before dark. There are more photo opportunities waiting to be had there. And to think, I never got south of Christchurch to Glacier country or to the East Coast.. . . Next time
