Hokitika NZMCA site (unpowered)
Moving down the West to the next biggest town, we stopped at Hokitika. The weather had improved slightly, but was still very windy by the seafront.
This is the home of the famous jade 'greenstone' in New Zealand – with many shops selling (overpriced) souvenirs and a slightly more genuine guy on the beach selling his own crafted greenstone and discussing commissions. In his car was his elderly dog who accompanied him everyday.
One blustery day, Justin helped the Maori fisherman on the seafront who was selling coffees and fish pies from his vintage caravan.
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| Driftwood artwork on the beach is something of an obsession. The armchair is a sculpture made of weathered concrete. |
This is the home of the famous jade 'greenstone' in New Zealand – with many shops selling (overpriced) souvenirs and a slightly more genuine guy on the beach selling his own crafted greenstone and discussing commissions. In his car was his elderly dog who accompanied him everyday.
One blustery day, Justin helped the Maori fisherman on the seafront who was selling coffees and fish pies from his vintage caravan.
He needed to fill up his generator with diesel to power his fridge. I loved that his collapsible chair had a sheepskin to make it more comfortable for his long hours spent waiting for his next tourist to serve.
On practical matters, I sought out the launderette in town: it was the dirtiest I have seen! And at $5 each the most expensive cold washes I've seen. One thing I really miss from home is my washing machine!
Back at the campsite, wemet an interesting family in a big old 1970’s bus, travelling the coast with their old bikes and the guy had a flying machine with him that he had built. Like a microlight. This was apt because there is a history associated with Hokitika and planes – the first New Zealand Air service took off from here, when, in 1934 Bert Mercer flew to Haast. The area lent itself to an airstrip with a long flat stretch of dunes...
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