Arthur’s Pass

I didn’t have much time to spend around Arthur’s Pass. There’s a national park, yes, but if don’t have time you’re spending much time in sight of power lines, the highway (SH 73), and the railway. There are only three passes connecting the West Coast with the Eastern parts of the South Island; Arthur’s Pass and Lewis’ Pass are the important ones with more traffic than Haast Pass in the Southern part. But you might also keep the bad things, especially power lines, in your back and enjoy interesting sights.

The Waimakariri valley was filled with violet lupines. The snow had already been gone save for a few patches on the higher mountains.

I can’t tell you much about the village, it’s where the train stops and you stack up provisions. As for walking tracks, you can look up http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/north-canterbury-and-arthurs-pass/arthurs-pass-short-walking-tracks/, provided by the Department of Conservation.

There’s a nice walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl, a waterfall, 131 m, with lots of spray. The Maori name is Te Tautea o Hine Kakai. Have a look at the picture.

I have been more excited by the region around the Bridal Veil Fall, not far away from the Devil’s Punchbowl. Though you don’t get near to the waterfall, you have a nice sight from an elevated looking point, where you can also sit and muse, write and enthuse. 

After sitting for a while and again a while, I went down to the stream, which is filled by the waterfall. And there the landscape is of a beauty ancient Chinese poets and painters were looking for and praised in the works of art.

Other texts on this New Zealand travel:

New Zealand Itinerary with Annotations and Pictures http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2013/12/blog-new-zealand-itinerary-with.html 

Little Blue Penguins at Pohatu Marine Reserve http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/little-blue-penguins-at-pohatu-marine.html

Penguins at Roaring Bay http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/penguins-at-roaring-bay.html

Borland Saddle and Human Impact http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/borland-saddle-and-human-impact.html

Kumara http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/kumara.html

New Zealand Haiku First Series: http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/new-zealand-haiku-first-series.html

New Zealand Haiku Second Series http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2014/01/new-zealand-haiku-second-series.html