The two weeks pervious we visited Queenstown and hung out with some old friends on Dads birthday. Then zoomed through Mackenzie country and hot pooled at Tekapo, After a uneventful fair in Timaru we went on to a bustling boiling three dayer in Christchurch.
The mossy rough stone walls rise either side of you, the blue domed roof stretch’s on in to the hazy horizon above you, the soft green carpet embraces your feet. You walk down the ancient hallway feeling the majestic vastness that is Castle hill.
On our way to Greymouth we travelled through the Arthurs pass for the first time! Everyone raves about the Arthurs pass and now I can see why, it is one of the most wild and beautiful places in NZ. When you enter the valley its like stepping back in time total wilderness for miles with no houses, no roads, and no reception. Then the occasional village surprises you with actual people living there in such an isolated place, I guess they would be quite a close-knit community. I know I would never be able to live there, I NEED MY OPSHOPS!!!
Our first stop was at Castle hill where we walked and had a picnic among the towering rocks then played hide and seek in teams (Mum & I and Dad & the boys) with walkie talkies, the seekers had two to communicate with each other while the hiders had one to give the seekers clues. It was very lengthy, exciting, and fun 😂.
We drove on and spent the night at Cass NZ’s only one resident town, in fact one of the few one resident towns in the world! And yes that’s right I said one resident, and that one resident is Barrie Drummond. We stayed at his campground in Cass for two nights as the weather was throwing a tantrum, spitting hitting and kicking, it ferociously attacked the truck making it impossible to drive the roads.
Cass: camp and chip & putt
The winds had calmed downt he next day so we carried on to Otira,(Otira means “o” place of and “tira” the travellers) the only town in NZ to be owned by one person. Lester Rowntree bought 21 hectares, including the hotel, 18 houses, hall, and fire station. Though it sound amazing the “town” is really run down, and the beautiful church is just used for storage space. The main attraction in the whistle stop is the Otira Stagecoach Hotel though its more of a museum than a hotel!
The moment you walk up to the building you can see the eclectic collection that is the wonderful café. Then when you step inside your eyes are immediately drawn to the walls, cluttered with all manner of random things from a stuffed peacock to a life-sized cowboy in the corner and much more! I thoroughly suggest a visit if your going through to the west coast.
Otira Stagecoach Hotel
On our way out of the Arthurs pass we made a quirky little side trip to Kotuku. Jack’s Mill school opened in 1909, when a new forward thinking teacher Edward Darracott arrived to the muddy, desolate, and dreary saw-mill town in 1935 he was appointed headmaster. Edward was an advocate of a new approach to education in New Zealand, which emphasised experiential learning tailored to the needs of individual children. Considered revolutionary, Edward gave his students hands on projects to teach them practical skills that would equip them for adult life. Doing up the school’s garden with concrete paths facing North, East, South and West, was the first task.
Once the garden was complete, Darracott’s theory of experiential learning was applied on a much more ambitious scale when he led a group of 10-12-year-old students to design, build and furnish a three-quarter-sized small bungalow. In all aspects of its construction, students were involved. Three quarter size interior appliances where also found, including a bath tub, hot water cylinder, stove, kitchen sink and kitchen units. Once finished the baby bungalow was fully functional with running water and electricity. It became the home economics room until the school closed in 1955. Its every kids dream to have a miniature house where they could actually reach the top cupboard!
Greymouth weekend we had the usual emotional spring weather with Saturday being a total washout, then Sunday being hot, sunny and busy.
The next week we went all the way over to Motueka to see our friends. When I walked into the Motueka Steiner School to pick up Jasmine (my B.S.F best sister forever) I felt a strong sense of familiarity, I loved my time there and have said my goodbyes and moved on, but it was lovely to see Margot my old teacher again. When I spotted Jasmine I walked over and gave her a big hug, she said hi did the most wonderful double take and enveloped me in a crushing bear hug. We went to see a movie, made teriyaki chicken for dinner, then stayed up late talking about stuff!
Jasmine and I said a sad goodbye the next morning, she went to school, we went to the North Island!
I hope you enjoyed my long overdue blog on the rest of the South Island!
Love Dylan Daisy❤