On to the West Coast

The first round trip is on, I want to drive from Christchurch over Arthurs Pass to the West Coast, then south along the Tasman Sea, past the Alps back inland, over Queenstown to Milford Sound and back to Wanaka.

My favorite daughter has assured me that it has nothing to do with my gray hair... actually, they might only come from this box. After all the trouble last year, which was caused by a faulty battery terminal resulting in mass failures in the control units and fuel pump that were costly to repair, I am now spontaneously getting another error message. A power interruption first clears the display; of course, I left the diagnostic device back in Germany. Whatever, moving on...

A light rain accompanies me at first, but for once, despite everything, three days of dry weather are forecasted on the West Coast.

Quickly grabbing a coffee at the last café before the pass, I head to the next stop, the sandstone rocks of Castle Hill. Scenes from 'The Chronicles of Narnia' were filmed here, and the bizarre rocks can be climbed freely.

From high to low, next stop Cave Stream: a 600m long cave through which a river runs. I actually wanted to go through barefoot, but when I see the gear of the other tourists with headlamps and wetsuits, I decide to turn back. The water is really cold too. Such a shame, it must be a great experience.

Along the Waimakariri River, I continue towards the pass height, in Arthurs Pass Village I hike to the Devils Punchbowl waterfall (130m), at the platform it’s a wet pleasure.

On the West Coast, I stay south; just before Hokitika, I find a place for the night, a salad and a beer conclude the first day of travel.