What an amazing day!!! I know you all have been waiting to hear what the opportunity of a lifetime was for Allan and me. 

We took a helicopter ride over the Southern Alps!  What a beautiful country this is and seeing it from the sky was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Flying close to the forests and the rocks was amazing and as we climbed higher to go over some of the higher mountains, we were in awe of the natural beauty.  The pilot flew to a glacier and let us off on the rocks so we could walk right up to the snow covered glacier. I was able to ride in the front seat of the helicopter on the way back. The photos will tell the story better than I can.  By the way…we all were weighed before we boarded the chopper so that the weight was distributed evenly.

After the helicopter ride, we went for a 1.3 mile walk through the Hokitika native bush and arrived at a suspension bridge overlooking the gorge. The water below was a gorgeous shade of turquoise blue which we were able to see very clearly since it is another beautiful sunny day. We then walked the 1.3 miles back to our bus. 

Our bus took us near the beach and we got off and walked along the sand where driftwood is plentiful. 

We had lunch and then we all went to hear how jade (greenstone or Pounamu) is mined from the nearby area and how it is cut and polished and made into beautiful jewelry, carvings, and many other things. I bought a beautiful necklace carved into the shape of a fish hook. Fish hook (Hei Matau in Maori) represents determination, strength, peace, (the name Irene means peace), prosperity, and safe journey especially over water. A very apropos necklace for me. 

We also went to The Possum People store to hear the owner discuss the controversial topic of possum eradication by poison pellets. Possum in New Zealand are destructive pests that were introduced to the country in the 1800’s to promote fur trade.  The country since realized the devastation the possums were causing but by then, the population of possums had increased to record levels. 

In order to eradicate them, the New Zealand government uses a poison known as sodium monofluroacetate. The toxic pellets must be prepared and distributed with care. They are usually dropped by helicopter in the National Forests, which is unbelievable. The pellets are harmful to humans, livestock, and non-targeted animals. Dogs have been killed by accidently ingesting the pellets while out for a walk.

The government recognizes the risks, but they feel the risks need to be weighed against the actual threat that the possums pose to the native forests and the farming industry. 

After the talk we did some shopping and then met in Catherine’s hotel room for some wine tasting and snacks. 

Catherine was once a wine maker and she told us how Pinot Noir wines are so tricky to produce. The grapes need cool mornings and nights with lots of sunshine during the day. She said the grape skins on those grapes are like silk shirts…thin so the sun can penetrate as opposed to the darker wines where the skins are like leather jackets. Interesting discription.  She said when you throw the Pinot Noir grape at a wall, if it bounces back, it is ripe.

We all went to dinner and I had pork belly and Allan had Hoki fish. I finished with pavlova and Allan had apple crumble. 

Hokitika is a charming little town and we are sad to leave it tomorrow. 

Ready to go

Whoa….flying close to the mountain

We landed on the mountain and walked to the glacier

Coming in for a landing

Rainforest walk

Looking into the gorge

Walking over the suspension bridge

Driftwood all along the beach

The jade store

My Jade necklace

The Possum store

Pork belly

Pavlova