A former logging settlement, population of 270. The locals seem to know one another, and look alike (I jest, but don’t criticise anyone without knowing who they may know…).
The picture of today is open vistas with no settlements after the lovely coastal town of Hokitika. Just small farms surrounded by rain forests, walls of ferns and an undulating road. Apart from the delightful quirky ex mining (gold) town of Ross.
Bird song makes a happy appearance, or are they exchanging advice on the future weather. Which is getting a bit cooler and wetter.
An interesting monument, doubling as a trig point, to the surveyors who ‘opened’ up the South West of the South Island. European I’ll assume: how did the poor Maori’s get around? It must have been a different and harsh environment with logging, mining etc. not so long ago.
Today it’s mainly tourist vehicles passing through. Tomorrow to Franz Joseph and a rest day. Activity planning will depend on the weather…..
Travelling reflections 