BLOG POST 29
We got down at Arthur’s pass and watched our train leave for its next destination .Arthur's Pass was previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, it is a town in Southern Alps of South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district and is a popular base for exploring Arthur’s Pass National Park. The town and the pass are named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934). In 1929 the Arthur’s Pass National Park was created which is New Zealand's third National Park
Arthur's Pass town is about 5 km south of mountain pass with the same name. Its elevation is 740 metres above sea level and is surrounded by beech forest. The Bealey River runs through the township.
There are several good walks from here, including the Devil's Punchbowl Falls, Bealey Valley and Avalanche Peak.
The mischievous Kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) can be found here. About 48 cm long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak.
The kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion, but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects.
The kea nest in groups in burrows or crevices among roots of trees and are known for their intelligence and curiosity, vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. They can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in orderly manner to get to food for example pushing the lid off a dust bin to get at the food inside, and they work together to achieve a certain objective.
The kea's notorious urge to explore and manipulate makes this bird both a pest for residents and an attraction for tourists. Called "the clown of the mountains", it will investigate backpacks, boots, skis, snowboards, and even cars (most commonly the rubber areas e.g. window frames),
The drivers who would park their cars or vans in parking for some time would come back and find the rubber items on the car gone, if allowed it would steal our shoes off our feet !.
People commonly encounter wild kea at South Island ski areas, where they are attracted by the prospect of food scraps. Their curiosity leads them to peck and carry away unguarded items of clothing, leading to amusement and annoyance of human observers. They are often described as "cheeky". A kea has even been reported to have made off with a tourist's passport while he was visiting the national park
Some people believe that the unbalanced diet resulting from feeding kea human foods has a detrimental effect on the birds' health as they will have more time for investigative and damaging activities.
We left Arthur’s Pass and proceeded on for Franz Josef ,on the way we stopped for lunch at Hokitika a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, 40 kilometres south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika river.
As per 2013 census population of the Hokitika urban area was 2,967.On a clear day Aoraki /Mount Cook would be seen from its main street.
Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West coast gold rush. By late 1866, it was one of New Zealand's most populous centres.. In 1867, the port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of vessels which entered inwards and in total value of exports specially gold.
For book lovers like me, it is gratifying to know that Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize -winning novel ,The Luminaries is set in gold rush-era Hokitika.
After lunch we stepped into a museum cum shop where we could see very huge pieces of Pounamu or jade and met master carvers in their working studios ,they were patiently explaining the process of carving the jade . One can even carve a piece for themselves
Hokitika’s major industries of greenstone (pounamu), gold, coal, and forestry have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism industry has grown up .It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry.
Another important industry is dairying, Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in town has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines and invites visitors to knit their own socks.
For a small town, Hokitika struck it rich in the resources stakes. Before the gold rushes Maori were already heading here in search of another precious stone – pounamu - Maori name also known as greenstone or New Zealand jade
Pounamu refers to several types of hard, durable and highly valued nephrite jade, bowenite, or serpentinite stone found in southern New Zealand.
Modern Maori who wish to give a gift of pounamu always look out for New Zealand nephrite. Traditionally, Maori consider this stone as a talisman and believe in its spiritual powers to evoke strength and prosperity, to protect, express love and kinship, and to depict growth and harmony.
Maori designs carved in jade are steeped in religious and spiritual belief. They tell stories of ancestors long departed, depict spirits from the heavens, earth, and underworld, show historical lineage and paint images of the natural world
Maori believe that a pounamu carving if worn against the skin, it would absorb some of that person’s essence. As carvings were passed down through the family they absorbed essence from each family member, creating a direct ancestral connection through the necklace itself.
Designs where hands are placed on the loins directly referred to fertility. The toki, or adze, has its origins as a practical tool used in axes.
The hei matu, or fish hook, has endured since pre-colonial times (prior to the 18thcentury) and symbolises abundance, and a respect for sea..
The koru is a modern design used extensively in Maori art, based on the unfurling silver fern frond and represents new life and growth.
Another modern design is the twist, which symbolises life’s eternal emerging paths. Heart designs are also a modern design. They're often associated with feelings and meanings of love, unity, and cohesion because the heart is where many of us experience our feelings.
The manaia is a relatively modern design to be carved in greenstone, and is considered the messenger between gods and mortals.
I could hardly finish looking at all the beautiful pieces and designs yearningly and my husband literally dragged me out to have a look at the beach
We were surprised to find ourselves stepping from the centre of the town into the beach in a jiffy
Hokitika is the only town centre on the West Coast located by the beach. The beach was rough, strewn with driftwood and beautiful views. For a knowledgeable person it was not rare to discover pieces of jade washed ashore by the sea in a storm,however we need permission to get it.
We saw a clock monument in the centre of the Hokitika Town. This was constructed to remember the 130 men who were dispatched from the Westland District to serve in the South African War.
All together it was a very nice town to spend some time
We got down at Arthur’s pass and watched our train leave for its next destination .Arthur's Pass was previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, it is a town in Southern Alps of South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district and is a popular base for exploring Arthur’s Pass National Park. The town and the pass are named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934). In 1929 the Arthur’s Pass National Park was created which is New Zealand's third National Park
Arthur's Pass town is about 5 km south of mountain pass with the same name. Its elevation is 740 metres above sea level and is surrounded by beech forest. The Bealey River runs through the township.
There are several good walks from here, including the Devil's Punchbowl Falls, Bealey Valley and Avalanche Peak.
The mischievous Kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) can be found here. About 48 cm long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak.
The kea nest in groups in burrows or crevices among roots of trees and are known for their intelligence and curiosity, vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. They can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in orderly manner to get to food for example pushing the lid off a dust bin to get at the food inside, and they work together to achieve a certain objective.
The kea's notorious urge to explore and manipulate makes this bird both a pest for residents and an attraction for tourists. Called "the clown of the mountains", it will investigate backpacks, boots, skis, snowboards, and even cars (most commonly the rubber areas e.g. window frames),
People commonly encounter wild kea at South Island ski areas, where they are attracted by the prospect of food scraps. Their curiosity leads them to peck and carry away unguarded items of clothing, leading to amusement and annoyance of human observers. They are often described as "cheeky". A kea has even been reported to have made off with a tourist's passport while he was visiting the national park
Some people believe that the unbalanced diet resulting from feeding kea human foods has a detrimental effect on the birds' health as they will have more time for investigative and damaging activities.
We left Arthur’s Pass and proceeded on for Franz Josef ,on the way we stopped for lunch at Hokitika a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, 40 kilometres south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika river.
As per 2013 census population of the Hokitika urban area was 2,967.On a clear day Aoraki /Mount Cook would be seen from its main street.
Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West coast gold rush. By late 1866, it was one of New Zealand's most populous centres.. In 1867, the port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of vessels which entered inwards and in total value of exports specially gold.
For book lovers like me, it is gratifying to know that Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize -winning novel ,The Luminaries is set in gold rush-era Hokitika.
After lunch we stepped into a museum cum shop where we could see very huge pieces of Pounamu or jade and met master carvers in their working studios ,they were patiently explaining the process of carving the jade . One can even carve a piece for themselves
Hokitika’s major industries of greenstone (pounamu), gold, coal, and forestry have all dwindled over the last century, but a growing ecotourism industry has grown up .It has become a major tourist stop on the West Coast's main highway route, with carving of greenstone an important local industry.
Another important industry is dairying, Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in town has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines and invites visitors to knit their own socks.
For a small town, Hokitika struck it rich in the resources stakes. Before the gold rushes Maori were already heading here in search of another precious stone – pounamu - Maori name also known as greenstone or New Zealand jade
Pounamu refers to several types of hard, durable and highly valued nephrite jade, bowenite, or serpentinite stone found in southern New Zealand.
Modern Maori who wish to give a gift of pounamu always look out for New Zealand nephrite. Traditionally, Maori consider this stone as a talisman and believe in its spiritual powers to evoke strength and prosperity, to protect, express love and kinship, and to depict growth and harmony.
Maori designs carved in jade are steeped in religious and spiritual belief. They tell stories of ancestors long departed, depict spirits from the heavens, earth, and underworld, show historical lineage and paint images of the natural world
Maori believe that a pounamu carving if worn against the skin, it would absorb some of that person’s essence. As carvings were passed down through the family they absorbed essence from each family member, creating a direct ancestral connection through the necklace itself.
Designs where hands are placed on the loins directly referred to fertility. The toki, or adze, has its origins as a practical tool used in axes.
The hei matu, or fish hook, has endured since pre-colonial times (prior to the 18thcentury) and symbolises abundance, and a respect for sea..
The koru is a modern design used extensively in Maori art, based on the unfurling silver fern frond and represents new life and growth.
Another modern design is the twist, which symbolises life’s eternal emerging paths. Heart designs are also a modern design. They're often associated with feelings and meanings of love, unity, and cohesion because the heart is where many of us experience our feelings.
The manaia is a relatively modern design to be carved in greenstone, and is considered the messenger between gods and mortals.
I could hardly finish looking at all the beautiful pieces and designs yearningly and my husband literally dragged me out to have a look at the beach
We were surprised to find ourselves stepping from the centre of the town into the beach in a jiffy
Hokitika is the only town centre on the West Coast located by the beach. The beach was rough, strewn with driftwood and beautiful views. For a knowledgeable person it was not rare to discover pieces of jade washed ashore by the sea in a storm,however we need permission to get it.
We saw a clock monument in the centre of the Hokitika Town. This was constructed to remember the 130 men who were dispatched from the Westland District to serve in the South African War.
All together it was a very nice town to spend some time
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