Arthurs Pass

The drive from Nelson to Arthurs Pass was a long one, and we had to back-track on some raods we had already travelled, but all in all a very enjoyable journey.

The scenery started to get more spectacular (or at least "bigger" and much steeper) the closer we got to Arthurs Pass, until we finally were on roads "unsuitable for towing" with some hefty gradients and saw the elevated sources of the many beautiful rivers we had crossed to get here.

Arthurs Pass itself is small, bordering on tiny. A single convenience store, with basic foodstuffs and the only takeaway liquor licence - just make sure you go when the licencee is actually on site (which we didn't).

The only bar/restaurant in town has basic meals, but they are simple, good, and huge !

Our accommodation was very basic, but yet again the quality of my sleep was inversely proportional to the cost of the room (or maybe I was just really tired after 5 or 6 hours in the saddle !).

The hosts (Pete and Fi) are just lovely people with a real passion for their country and especially the Arthurs Pass conservation area.

One thing "they" don't tell you about are sandflies. They are small, plentiful, and they hurt ! Be very careful, as the bites can cause an alergic reaction for some people and itchy red spots can become much worse.