StreetscapeNZ - 71

Arthur's Pass, Main West Coast Highway

South Island

February 2009, Ajr

Two Passes

Top: Porter's Pass; Below: Arthur's Pass. Dec 2008. Ajr

I love Porter's and Arthur's Passes at this time of year - the summer lupins are flowering, casting a great swathe of pink and purple across the rugged landscape; the skies are blue (generally); and the rivers twinkle with mountain reflections. It's a dramatic landscape that never fails to impress me.

Under Purple Mountain

Flock Hill. Dec. 2008. Ajr

This tiny farm building at Flock Hill Station is dwarfed by the huge mountains that surround it. Many of the locals call this particular 'hill' Purple Mountain because of its ever-changing colours. Anyone looking for some comfortable, reasonably-priced accommodation for their Porter's Pass ski holiday, or a trekking adventure in Arthur's Pass, would do well to consider Flock Hill. It's great value for money. www.flockhill.co.nz

On The Trail

The Bealey Track, Arthur's Pass.

It rained the day we tackled the Bealey River Valley (part of Tuatara Tour's West Coast Trail) but that didn't seem to matter. It wasn't cold and the misty, inclement conditions added a certain moodiness to the hike that only enhanced the rugged beauty of this potentially wild place. The first part of the hike, through beautiful tussock and alpine beech forest, is blessed with terrific wooden boardwalks, which made the going very easy. Clambering over the huge river boulders in the second stage of the walk (to the foot of Mt Rolleston), wasn't quite so easy. www.tuataratours.co.nz

Bush Architecture

Arthur's Pass, South Island. Dec. 2008. Ajr

This is the very cute Jack's Hut, tucked into beech forest on the side of the main highway at Arthur's Pass. You'll pass it if you drive the three hour journey across the South Island, from Christchurch to Greymouth. It's now a registered Historic Site in the care of the Department of Conservation. I'm not sure of its original purpose - perhaps it was an early roadman's hut?