Day 1 Transalpine Christchurch to Greymouth:
Transalpine Christchurch to Greymouth. A clear but cold morning (-1) and a beautiful red sunrise we the railway station left on time
After traveling through Christchurch Suburbs and industrial estates it was not until Springfield before we caught the glimpse of the Snow laden Southern Alps as they stood in their glory.
After a short stop here where some youngsters had the chance to break some ice we departed towards the mountains and Arthurs pass.
The train started to climb through a number of valleys,over bridges and through a number if tunnels. Still being winter and the sun being low in the sky the climb through the ranges were cold with mist and frost. Certainly the carriages were deceiving with their heating and wonderful windows.
The view carriage is a another story, no heating,no windows and no seats. It is a small price to pay for getting to see stunning views and room to take photos. Wrap a warm is the order of the day.
After a brief stop at Arthur’s Pass (was looking forward to seeing the snow) where we had a chance to stretch one’s legs,2 extra engine units were placed on the other end. This is to help the train to travel 8.5km with a 1 in 33 drop through the tunnel to the valley below.
We left the additional units behind and then headed through river valleys passing Lake Brunner home of Brown Trout, before arriving at Greymouth more or less on time.
A great journey with so much missed i will be back.
After picking up the hire at the station.i headed for Hokitiki for the night. The West Coast is well known for its beauty and although the rain was chucking it down it did not detract from this.
A pleasant night in the accommodation with a log fire,something to eat and a good book. It also hit home while having a chat with the couple who were running the accommodation that a guest was brought back to accommodation after rolling his car after hitting some ice.
Day 2 Hokitiki to Franz Josef Glacier:
It was still chucking down with rain when left Hokitiki but at least a early morning coffee next to a log fire helped.
A gentle drive from Hokitiki to Franz Josef Glacier following inland from the coast. Passing lots of lakes and small communities along the way.
The weather cleared by mid morning. After checking in at the accommodation i headed to the glaciers.
It’s at this point you realise how chargeable the weather becomes when it closed in over the valley and decided to rain yet again yet a few minutes drive back down the road it was still clear.
Wet but not dejected headed back to town , took a look at the Helicopters landing then retired to the lounge,a book of dubious standard next to a fire and a large bowl of spicy chunky vegetable soup.
Day 3 Franz Josef Glacier to Wanaka:
The ongoing theme is rain,rain and rain. This would be the the longest of the driving days. Leaving Franz Josef early it was following the coast for a while before heading in land stopping briefly at Bruce Bay and Knights Point Lookout.
This was followed by late morning coffee at the village of Haast. The drive at this point became interesting.Climbing through valleys the rain followed all the way through and on top of that thunder and lightening made worse by the closeness of the valleys.
Also every now and then there would be waterfalls close to the road. Passing through Gates of Haast was impressive and here you appreciate nature with many evidence of slips with a section of road being repaired. This caused the road to be closed overnight due to the danger of the slips.
After the whole day of rain it was a great to see the top of Lake Hawea knowing that you would be in Wanaka shortly.
Checked in then headed for evening meal. Found a great bar with views of a very rain misty lake and a fire.
Head a great meal and a couple of drinks. Then bed it was, No need for a early start in the morning as was staying in Wanaka for 2 nights.
Day 4 Wanaka and Queenstown:
Today started as yesterdays finished. Rain,Rain and more Rain, So its was coffee and scone in Wanaka it was off to Queenstown via Cromwell and Kawarau Valley.
There were stunning views of the snow capped Remakables. Stopped briefly to watch the planes take of from the airport with limited moving area and rewarded with the surrounding views.
With a brief stop it was a trip up the cable car to get some stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The return trip to Wanaka would be over the Crown Ranges via Cardrona. A lovely drive with very few cars in either direction.
Stopped in Cardrona for afternoon tea beside another log fire it was a gentle run back to Wanaka passing a fence with bra’s on it.
Then a time for a beer and another melt by a log heater and a good book.
Day 5 Wanaka to Lake Tekapo:
As the last full day of this road trip dawned the weather decided to play game. Although windy it was not raining. With a early coffee watching a lightening display over a distance hill it felt good to see some blue sky.
Heading back towards The Lindis Pass the car was getting a good workout from the wind with it being blown around like it was going out of fashion.
Seeing the fields and sky change colour at almost every bend was fascinating.There was then a brief stop for a coffee and petrol I headed inland towards Mnt Cook Village.
By know the weather had turned on its charm although windy the skies had cleared and it had stopped raining.
Heading along Lake Pukaki it was obvious that there would be another change in weather with very dark clouds hanging over Mnt Cook Village,and yes it was rubbish. I was glad that i was doung any mountain climbing.
Looking at the mountain ranges it’s easy to see how if unprepared you are things can become a major problem.
With a double back along the same road it was a short run to Lake Tekapo and checked in to the accommodation it was then up to Mnt John’s Observatory. By God it was windy drive up to the top. Lead weights would have been useful.
There can be no understateing the views. These were stunning and to see the area form this vantage point was awesome.
On the way back a Japanese couple were having their weeding photographs taken and what a beautiful back drop there was.
The thing I did notice was how brown this area was compared to the West Coast. The only green was the Pine plantations and the rare patch of grass.
Then to calm the aching legs it was of to a long dip in a hot pool. Almost sleepy by the time i got out,so a meal and drink and then a early night.
Day 6 Lake Tekapo to Christchuch:
Sunshine Sunshine and more Sunshine. Left Lake Tekapo in sunshine just as i had arrived. Although over the range that i had come from the clouds were black big time and there were a few flashes of lightening.
This day was a gentle few hours to Chch Airport via Burkes Pass and SH72 ( Inner Scenic Road).
Although the sun was out for most of the day and Chch was 22C by hell it was blowing a gale.
The car was again feeling the wind against it and not sure it was the wind or it was shaking with fear.
There were a couple of very short showers that produced some great rainbows of which one was a double one near Rakaia Gorge crossing.
With the car given back to the hire company minus a mud flap that sound like a flat tyre before falling off.
I was not in a great hurry to get back to Wellington although i did have a cousins 40th get together that evening.
The weather did its best to stop AirNZ from landing in Windy Wellington.The captain said that Wellington was having a weather fit although nothing unusual there.
After doing a go around due to the gusts being above the limits for safe landing, After a 20 minute circle over Cook Straits we did land with the bulk of the PAX clapping on landing. The rain was giving the apron a good bashing.
I will be completing the coast from Greymouth to Nelson in a couple of weekends time via driving over Arthurs’ Pass
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Road Trip: Christchurch to Nelson Via West Coast
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