Arthurs Pass and Glacier Country

Saturday, October 24, 2015
Arthurs Pass, South Island, New Zealand
Another beautiful day to travel and again the GPS takes us the quicker route this time cutting out Christchurch, but that's ok as we will spend a few days there at the end of the trip and catch up with family.

More great scenery and we start to see the mountains with more snow, and some stunning colour in the streams and rivers .   Finally make it to the Wilderness Lodge and meet Claire and Michael who are brother and sister and run the Lodge, their parents run the sister Lodge near the Glaciers so quite the family business.   The views from the lodge are stunning and we brave the cold and take it all in before our activities start.

Michael takes us on a treck through a Beech Tree forest that surrounds the Lodge, the ground can get covered in two feet of snow and heaps of rain, so along with the trees dropping their branches etc., it is very spongy to walk on.  He really does know his stuff and we try to pay attention whilst taking a stack of photos. 

Next we head off with Michael and the two Border Collies, Meg who is three and Tess who is 13 and an old hand at mustering the Merino Sheep. So we walk a way down to the sheep paddock and the sheep realise its show time and start to bolt, Meg runs off at Michael's signal but she's a young tacker and when he says move right Meg, of course she goes left, Meg sit, she takes off .

So after a few minutes old girl Tess, who had been meandering over due to her arthritis, picks up some speed and gets around the back of the sheep, one bark and she's got them heading our way. Meg picks up her act and they work together, got a bit hairy with 30 Merino sheep heading for us, so we just stood still and the dogs sorted them out to a halt in front of us.   Magic!

Then we go over to the sheering shed, reminded me of Mukinbudin when I was about 10, hmm long time ago. There is a two day old lamb with mum who looks worse for wear, both being kept away from the others to make sure they bond for feeding.   The Michael brings our a lamb born this morning who had been abandoned by its mum, he has matched him up with another mum who's baby hadn't survived, so fingers crossed they both bond well.   The young one was incredibly happy to snuggle in to both Kel and I, lovely experience.

After a bit of quiet time we enjoy a four course meal, the Salmon Salad and Roast Rack of Lamb is to very good and deserts just amazing.   Really enjoyed sleeping in a 'real' bed for the night too!

We have a great breaky and head off for Glacier country on the West Coast, very sad but the Glaciers are receding and I notice a huge difference from 10 years ago.   We attempt the West Coast Helicopter flight in the afternoon but its too cloudy so fingers crossed for Monday morning. 

 
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Comments

Maggie
2015-10-26

Just beautiful pics. Weather further down South is supposed to rain, sleet and snow to lower levels so mountains should look great.

Elaine
2015-10-26

Very jealous all looks fabulous have a great time it all goes to fast love mummy bear

2025-02-08

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