Heading South to Hokitika

Back on the road again today. It was the last day of Summer yesterday but someone forgot to tell the sun.It was another one and a half hour drive. We picked a Czec Republic hitch-hiker up as we left our motel, he was grateful we would be able to take him all the way. There are lots of hikers hitching on every leg of our journey. Whenever we can, we offer lifts as public transport is scarce. Anne under the clock tower in the main street of Hokitika. The beach at Hokitika. Anne feeding the eels at the kiwi centre. Some of them are over 100 years old. The oldest is 115 years old. They go blind after turning 50 and the older they get the more hump backed they become. The picture of the RC church looks lovely and very impressive in town. The top of the dome is floodlit at night. Unfortunately it is not used for Mass on Sundays. They are in the school hall next door. Daily Mass is in a little Chapel at the presbytery which will squeeze about six people in. Don't know if it has been affected by an earthquake in the past as there wasn't any reason given for it not being used. The splendid looking Methodist Church at the other end of town was not in use due to damage from an earthquake. Tentatively crossing the swing bridge en route to Hokitika Gorge. More pictures taken at the Gorge. The river is fed by water from melted glaciers, which is the reason for the deep blue colour. Some pictures taken on the way back to town (about 40 kms away) The memorial is in memory of people murdered in a massacre in the 1940's. Went to see the glow worms at night but just like the kiwis we couldn't photograph them.