Glaciers and rock flower pools, for example. Beaches devoid of people, but running for miles along the azurre blue Pacific Ocean, perhaps. Rainforests thick with vegetation and birdsong, mirrored across the bay with the snow-crested mountains of the Southern Alps, even.
And the most sublime fish and chip restaurant at the end of the World, The Craypot in Jacksons Bay. Grilled gurnard, bluenose, crab, crayfish, rig (shark) and chips. Freshly caught, freshly cooked. A sheer delight.
And with this view across to the mountains. Not a bad place to park your camper van.
So, a couple of days of hectic outdoors activities: A drive along 30km of dust road to Rob Roy Glacier, where you may be lucky and spot keas (we didn't), but a thrilling climb up through the gorge to a stunning ice field which once covered the whole valley.
Yesterday was a day's touring to the West Coast along the Haast Pass where in ancient times Maoris travelled in search of greenstone. We stopped at Makarora to see the Blue Pools; a series of crystal clear waters that have been carved out of the rocks by centuries of erosion. The glacier-fed water in these deep pools is the colour of deep azure blue, and so clear that you can see right to the bottom, making the resident brown trout look like they are suspended in the air. Along the way we hear the distinctive calls of bellbirds and tui high in the trees formng a canopy above us.
Then a quick photo opp at Fantail Falls:
And over the Haast Bridge (ever seen the scene in 'The Untouchables' where the whisky is being shipped from Canada into the US and the Mounties ride in? This must have been the film loction).
Yeah, everyone smile for the camera - and that means you too, Oban!
Now someone had a great idea of having a picnic in a sandstorm. Free exfoliation with every bite. And sandflies to eat you alive. Enjoyed the sushi, though, crunch, crunch.
The we hit the Ocean. Haast Beach runs forever along the sparsely-populated hamlets with names like Hannah's Clearing and burns and streams like Crikey Creek and Muddy Creek. Paddled in the Pacific and gathered greenstones (pounamu in Maori - jade to us). Or rather quarried it in Diane's collection. Apparently they'll make great paperweight gifts for Xmas - bet you can't wait?!?
Then around the headland to Jacksons Bay and the rainforest walk. We'd hoped to see the penguins there but it appears they had all p-p-p-packed up and p-p-p-passed on.
