2022年12月30日发(作者：我们撞到外星人)ing views of fjords t beside glassy water and knew that our true Kiwi adventure had just begun. We had heard so much about the South and knew that we wouldn't be disappointed.
drove bleary-eyed through remote villages and rolling countryside until we found another kip-spot in a lay-by surrounded by hills and sheep. We were nearly suffocated a few hours later as the remarkably strong Kiwi sun burnt the roof of our tin-shed on wheels and we felt like a couple of roast chickens in an oven.
's cousin Simon had emigrated to New Zealand with his wife Soo and daughter Ella 3 years previously, so we were very keen to pop in and catch up witha few friendly faces.
g into their dusty drive in the rolling hills just outside Nelson, we were greeted by more faces than we had bargained for as their troop of furry alpacas came bounding towards the fence.
and the family emed to have become great experts at all things alpaca-related and they were very excited to have just nt off their first batch of wool that they had hand-sheared一it would soon be returning as balls of the highest quality wool.
took the chance to visit Nelson,an attractive town full of cafes. We also did an amazing coastal walk in the Abel Tasman National Park, watching a kayakers glide in between the rainforest-clad islands that lttered the bay.
would have been great to have been able to spend a few more days with Simon, Soo and Ella, but with so much to e down south with so little time, it was time to hit the road again.
climbed southwest out of Nelson, up in the Nelson Lakes National Park, gingerly winding our way through forested mountain pass, stopping all too briefly to enjoy the tranquilscene at Lake Rotoiti. We were soon chad away by theinfamous nibbling sandfly. Pressing everfurther southwest, we finally emerged onthe west coast at Foulwind Bay nearWestport.
r south, the coastal landscape became more dramatic as the mountainssloped down sharply to meet the a andstacksof rock jutted out from the craggyshoreline.
r few hours of driving and we arrived in Hokitika, where New Zealand jade is mined. The town's only reason for“being s to be the pdding of jade, or"greenstone" as its called here. The jade itlf is owned by the local Maori tribe and has to be airlifted out by helicopter from the inaccessible mountains just inland.
was from here that we got our first glimp of the snow-covered high mountains of the Southern Alps, quite bizarrely from the beach.
arrived at the alpine-style township of Franz Jof, The main touristevent there was the trek to the Franz JofGlacier - an hour's walk up the valley,carved out by the mighty glacier. This awe-inspiring feature dominated the wide,deep-sided valley, glistening at its snow-covered peak and snaking its way furtherup, ending in a blue-tinged craggy face,split with bottomless ravines. Thephotos of Victorian tourists messing about
i
gpipe-playing buskers in the streets. Then we went on northwards.
here we are now in hristchurch, the most English of Kiwi towns. You can all heve a sgh of reiei that we have almost finished this epic!
