Christchurch and over to the west coast

It is Thursday afternoon here and I am now on the west coast of South Island New Zealand.

The west coast region boasts 31,000 permanent residents and 12,000 of them live here in Greymouth, so when they claim remote they are correct.

I spent yesterday in Christchurch and it’s surrounds. I walked down the hill again (third time in total) and caught the local bus in to town, about a 30 min ride. Cost about USD$2 for the one way trip so great value. I also discovered that the house is approx 170 meters above sea level about 560 ft.

I walked around a little and visited the cathedral, and decided on the gondola ride, which involved another bus ride. I chatted with a couple from Knoxville TN on a tour of Australia and NZ.

The top is 455 meters above sea level and only a couple of km away.

There is a great view of Lyttleton harbor which serves Christchurch and it looks like a lot of wood products are shipped from there. Access by road is through a tunnel but there is a train line also.

It is possible (I discovered later) to hike down from the top of the gondola ride to the harbor. I would have done it if I had known. 

I took the more leasurly route by going back down on the gondola and on to Lyttleton on the bus (the same tcket worked as it was under 2 hours since I bought it. Saw a couple of Cat loaders with log forks and , as always a Volvo!!

Back to town and finished up at the Botanical Gardens. They are beautifully kept and there was a flower show that starts today so a lot of activity. 

I wandered back in to town, had a cold beer, and a nice chat with a NZ couple getting ready to start a business, and then met up with Tom for a ride back to the palace!

Tom has joined the volunteer fire brigade in Sumner, so he had training. I got my act together for an early departure this morning on the TransAlpine train.

The train leaves Christchurch at 8.15 and Tom gave me a ride on his way to work.

When I took the Overlander on North Island there were 4 cars. This train had 8 cars, and while not full was probably 80% full.

It crosses the fertile Canterbury Plain and starts it’s climb to Arthur’s Pass at 727 meters or about 2400 ft 

That is me below the sign blending with the scenery!

As always the scenery was magnificent even though there was rain and low cloud that limited the view some. After Arthur’s Pass the train goes through a 8km tunnel on about a 3% grade so dropping about 240 meters and then on to Greymouth arriving about 1.30.

A flurry of activity ensued as people collected their bags and rental cars or caught connecting busses on down towards Franz Josef Glacier or Queenstown. I will be doing that tomorrow. My accommodation is more than adequate but does not compare to the house in Sumner. That was a nice break but I am very happy with what I am finding with the hostels in general.

I am off to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers tomorrow until Sunday morning. There is a possibility that I may be able to fly from Franz Josef and land on Mt Cook on a ski plane. How cool is that!

I have pushed my departure from NZ out again and will now be here until the 24^th leaving only a short time in Australia. I am keen not to rush NZ but know I will have merely scratched the surface in about a month.

I met a couple on the train today from Sydney who waxed eloquent about Tasmania and my friends April and Steve have already told me essentially the same. That may be where I spend my Aussie time.