Hokitika, New Zealand

Our proprietress in Christchurch knocked on our door this morning and said, “We’re having a Northwestern wind today. That means it will be mostly dry here this morning and rainy in the mountains and on the western coast. I suggest you go to Willowbank and see the kiwis.”

She was right. As warm, moist air blows up the western slopes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps the moisture is wrung out and falls as rain. By the time the air gets to the other side to the east it is dry. And that’s what we experienced today. We spent the morning at the Willowbank nature preserve (really a zoo) and left Christchurch about 12:30. The moment we got near the top of Arthur’s pass we were in and out of light rain and clouds. Here on the west coast it’s foggy but the rain has stopped.

Willowbank was very nice. They have three sections: Wild New Zealand, with species introduced in New Zealand, Heritage New Zealand with domesticated species and Natural New Zealand with species native to New Zealand. All three were interesting and we took lots of pictures, including the under wing plumage of the Kea and even a nocturnal Kiwi. Willowbank has five kiwis and guarantees a sighting even though the exhibit is in extremely low light. (If you don’t see one a guide will point one out.)

The trip over the pass was very scenic despite the rain, a pleasant surprise since we had anticipated nothing but rain and fog. The road is good with lots of pull-outs for picture takers and slow-moving vehicles. We didn’t see much in the way of wildlife, including Keas, which I had hoped to have a go at for more plumage shots. Our friends David and Jean who were here in September purchased a very nice photograph of a colorful Kea. The challenge I set for myself is to equal or exceed that shot. I got a couple at the zoo but that really doesn’t count – I need one in the wild. I’m still on the hunt!

Lunch was a moving experience. We ate the entire meal in the car while traveling. Here is the menu, in the order consumed:

Trail mix (2 kinds purchased last night in Christchurch)
Chocolate (2 kinds, again from Christchurch)
Crackers and cheese (from Rotorua)
Oranges (from Rotorua)
Potato chips (Chicken variety, from Christchurch)

Since we haven’t done too well nutrition wise, we’re going for pizza tonight to make up. Maybe I’d better do a beer to make sure.

Upon checking in here in Hokitika we were awarded an upgrade to the Penthouse Suite. It is a fabulously nice room with a living room and separate bedroom that overlooks the Tasman Sea. We’re sitting in our living room scratching our heads at the election returns (it’s almost 7 PM here, 1 AM back home). But that’s a story for another day. We’re here for New Zealand.