Tui Extreme, Day 1: Arthur's Pass, etc.

Sunday was Day 1 of our group trip with Active New Zealand. We were picked up at Christchurch Airport and after meeting our traveling companions for the week, we headed west to cover some ground.

Our first stop was at Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area, a limestone formation near Arthur's Pass.

the treasure from a distant land

karst landscape

We continued on to Arthur's Pass where we had a yummy sandwich buffet, and where I officially became hooked on NZ bread (and those lovely bacon rice cakes) - they really pack in the grains, yet unlike most healthy breads we have here, it stays moist and delicious.

'nuff said

After lunch we took a short walk up to Devil's Punchbowl. I'm pretty snobby about waterfalls, being from Portland and all, but at 131 meters (430 feet) I was impressed.

watch out, Multnomah, there's a new kid in town

Then more driving to Okarito where we stayed at the aptly named Okarito Beach House. It was just a short walk to the beach, so while everyone else enjoyed a cocktail I wandered off to see what I could see.

Okarito Lagoon

The neighboring house had a pet sheep, also aptly named "Sheepie" by the small child who lived there. Sheepie was leashed to the fence, and seemed to serve as their organic, fuel efficient lawn mower - in the morning we noticed that Sheepie's leash had been moved down the fence post and the grass where he had been the night before was picked pretty clean.

sheepie!

Homemade chicken curry and wine rounded out the day. Next up: glacier time!