Monday, December 05, 2005
Back to the coast
Today we left Mount Cook and drove back towards the coast. We had to stop in Twizel for diesel (do they rhyme either way?), having practically coasted in on fumes. Nobody told me that the petrol station in Mount Cook was unmanned with a credit card machine that doesn't accept cards from outside New Zealand. Next time we'll be a little more cautious when planning fuel stops.
Anyway, thereafter we passed the chain of lakes that make up the hydro-electric scheme. Water's stored all the way from Tekapo and Pukaki, and fed down through canals and lakes, generating power on the way. Unfortunately we were a little early to stop for lunch, even though the scenery was beautiful.
We stopped a little bit later by a Maori rock art site. The limestone on which it was painted was very soft and badly eroded, and it was difficult to make out much, apart from the fact that they used fewer colours than the Aborigines and the styles were very different indeed.
Oamaru reminded me of seaside Sussex in spring. We found a camp site in town and Sarah took Max and Erin for a swim in the local pool. Then we treated ourselves to an early night.
Anyway, thereafter we passed the chain of lakes that make up the hydro-electric scheme. Water's stored all the way from Tekapo and Pukaki, and fed down through canals and lakes, generating power on the way. Unfortunately we were a little early to stop for lunch, even though the scenery was beautiful.
We stopped a little bit later by a Maori rock art site. The limestone on which it was painted was very soft and badly eroded, and it was difficult to make out much, apart from the fact that they used fewer colours than the Aborigines and the styles were very different indeed.
Oamaru reminded me of seaside Sussex in spring. We found a camp site in town and Sarah took Max and Erin for a swim in the local pool. Then we treated ourselves to an early night.
// posted by Chrisl @ 11:56 PM 
