Christchurch to Arthurs Pass April 15, 2011

Rainy, misty, clouds-not a good day for this trip with the spectacular scenery it promised. This is the train that travels across the south island from Christchurch to Greymouth on the west coast. Our plan was to get off at Arthur's Pass, which is about half way, and take some hikes, have lunch and catch the train on its return trip to Christchurch. We traveled through Greymouth last week in a rainstorm and really hoped we didn't have to visit there again in rainy weather. However, once we got high enough into the mountains, the sun broke through and it was beautiful. We had some nice vistas, especially over the viaducts that spanned the rivers. The high country is also home to some of the biggest sheep stations on the south island.

Sun is shinning in Arthurs Pass and we get off, head to the visitors center to get some direction from the staff. We are off to the Devils Punchbowl Falls. Yes, up you went, several hundred steps but the view at the top was quite nice. While at the observation spot, we met an Ozzie couple that offered to take our picture. They said they didn't travel with a camera, so we took their picture and offered to email it to them. They were pleased about that and said to call them if we wished when we arrived in Melbourne.

We trekked back to the village for lunch before tackling another hike to the Bridal Veil Falls (has to be the most popular name for a waterfall, world wide). The trail was under construction, so we could only go part way. Back down to the main road and a hike through the town, which in its heyday, housed the miners who tunneled through the rock for the railroad. The miner's cottages lined the road; some were run down, others were fixed up for holiday cottages. This area is known for its hiking trails.

Back onto the train and as we descended, the clouds appeared. It was not as foggy as in the morning, so we got to see some vistas that were hidden in the morning. It was a better day than we thought it would be.