Boarding the train at Greymouth along with other tourists and a few locals I was pleased to find that, as requested, my designated seat was right by the viewing car where it was much easier to take photos. These carriages are a bit like cattletrucks – no seats and no glass in the windows – and, on both my train journeys in New Zealand, became a meeting place for enthusiastic amateur photographers trying to find the shots that would enable others to share the experience without living it.
Although the journey was less constantly dramatic than I expected, it was a great ride through the mountains and then across the Canterbury plains into Christchurch, where my new friends were waiting to meet me. I was looking forward to sharing my experiences of their island home and comparing notes with them.
Starting at sea level in Greymouth, the train climbs to 737m at Arthur’s Pass, crossing streams, flowing rivers and dry riverbeds as well as meadows and grazing livestock – but always with mountains in view, usually grey rocky outcrops in the landscape.
View such as these made me forget just how steeply the train was climbing. Much of the time, we could have been in any mountain valley.
Not until we reached the highest point of the railway at Arthur’s Pass did it dawn on me how fast we had been climbing. The commentary was good, but not always clear in the viewing carriage where I spent most of the journey. Only seeing the numbers made it real.
Constantly drawn to water, I was amused to find that anyone might consider trespassing on this bridge. As you can see in the next photo, there was a pretty steep drop!
I was grateful that both my first and last journeys on the South Island were by train. Train travel is something I miss now that it’s so easy to drive or fly everywhere. As I look back at the photographs, I wonder WHY I was disappointed with this train journey. I’ve decided it was because it was the last thing I did before returning to Christchurch, so I had seen some of the more impressive parts of the island first.During this holiday, I have used many different forms of transport – train is still one I love!
Arriving in Christchurch on time, I was happy to be met by my hosts from the previous week and glad to get back to one of my favourite views: I really did sit and stare at it for hours, sometimes even without the camera to hand!! And its moods did me proud each day!
There was no car to be picked up or returned this time so, swapping notes on the way back to the house, we planned the next couple of days before I was to fly to Melbourne on 13th January.
The first day was given over to souvenir shopping and finally buying the jacket I had had my eye on for such a long time, making sure that everything that must be done, was done, before enjoying a few final sights and a Thai meal together. We even managed to plan that the Antarctic Experience could be visited on the way to the airport, leaving the final full day free to go a bit further afield if the weather were to cooperate.
After our day at the shops, we all went to a Thai restaurant where the food was very authentic and the owners very welcoming. Introducing them to good Thai food was one little thing I could do for these strangers-become-friends who had made my stay so enjoyable.
The next day, Lydia and I set off undecided whether we could get to Akaroa as the weather was unpredictable. We managed it ( or, rather, she managed it – I did nothing except enjoy the views!) and spent a pleasant couple of hours enjoying all that the small town had to offer before returning to the city. For the passenger this was a lovely drive through hills and dales with a variety of livestock and crops along the way as well as a cheese factory to visit.
Dinner was almost ready by the time we arrived and all that was left was for me to pack and try to squeeze everything into an already heavy suitcase and camera bag… as it happened neither was too heavy.
The flight departure time meant I needed to be at the airport early in the afternoon, so we had decided that , having seen the Antarctic photo exhibition in the museum on my first day, we should go to the Antarctica Experience on my very last day. I’m glad we did – it was very well organised and informative – and, what’s more, fun!!
Farewell, New Zealand, thanks for the lessons learnt, insights gained and fun along the way! Australia, I’m coming back!!
Living the Journey 