Last night on returning from our walk we settled down in the motel bar and enjoyed a bar-b-q and a scoop or two of Monteith's Black, in a proper beer glass. As the train wasn't due to pick us up at Moana until 2-40pm today and we were checked out of our room for 10-00 we were able to catch up with our facebook/blog in the motel lounge, before taking a walk to watch the Tranzalpine pass Eastwards through Moana en route to Greymouth. It was 30 minutes late, which means it will be late picking us up on it's return this afternoon. We then explored the Western end of the town, which was the poor relation as the views were not that special. We returned to the motel for lunch, Monteith's for me and tea for Anne. It has been confirmed that the train will be about 25 minutes late picking us up this afternoon. Ah well, time for another Monteith's or two. Some pictures from this morning.
n
Leaving a dry and relatively warm Moana, the train climbed into the mountainous region heading to Arthur's Pass.
The higher we got the lower the clouds appeared, until eventually we were in them and the rain. The journey through the tunnel which brought us to the station took just over 12minutes. It was still raining as we got off the train and has remained so for the rest of the day. Arthur's Pass is smaller and quieter than Moana. The weather forecast is brighter for tomorrow so we should be able to do a bit of exploring.
We had reached our accommodation before the train had pulled out of the station and while it is very clean it is like stepping back in the 1950s.
There was no chance of us losing the key as it was attached to a 6 inch piece of wood.
We awoke to another day of really low cloud and light drizzle. Not to be put off, after breakfast we checked out of our 1950s style cabin and stepped back into the 21st century. It was time for us to stretch our legs and climb to the viewing platform beneath Devil's Punchbowl Falls. It was a windy path up the hillside, with a total of 337 steps built in the track which took you back down the hillside in places before the path started to climb again.
By the time we reached the viewing platform, the shower proofs and jumper had been discarded, as the sun had burnt through the clouds.
Note the low cloud on these early morning pictures. As we progressed up towards the falls, the visibility improved and the code of dress changed.
The last photo. was taken on the way down (247 steps from the viewing platform), from a clearing and looking back towards the falls. Only 90 steps and some winding pathway back to the bridge across the river.
On the way back into the town we stopped off at the local, primarily to see if the Kiwis had managed to finish England off. The pint was only a necessity to be able to watch the TV.
On the way back to the motel to collect our bags we had to pass the Post Office, saw a kea, perched on a car and called in the Information centre where an original stagecoach which used to traverse the pass before the tunnel rail link was opened.
After one last look at our motel we collected our cases and made the short journey across the road and onto the station platform. Needless to say, the train was just over 30 minutes late picking us up to Springfield,on the perimeter of the Canterbury Plains.
A couple of pics taken on the platform of Arthur's Pass station.
n
Leaving a dry and relatively warm Moana, the train climbed into the mountainous region heading to Arthur's Pass.
The higher we got the lower the clouds appeared, until eventually we were in them and the rain. The journey through the tunnel which brought us to the station took just over 12minutes. It was still raining as we got off the train and has remained so for the rest of the day. Arthur's Pass is smaller and quieter than Moana. The weather forecast is brighter for tomorrow so we should be able to do a bit of exploring.
We had reached our accommodation before the train had pulled out of the station and while it is very clean it is like stepping back in the 1950s.
There was no chance of us losing the key as it was attached to a 6 inch piece of wood.
We awoke to another day of really low cloud and light drizzle. Not to be put off, after breakfast we checked out of our 1950s style cabin and stepped back into the 21st century. It was time for us to stretch our legs and climb to the viewing platform beneath Devil's Punchbowl Falls. It was a windy path up the hillside, with a total of 337 steps built in the track which took you back down the hillside in places before the path started to climb again.
By the time we reached the viewing platform, the shower proofs and jumper had been discarded, as the sun had burnt through the clouds.
Note the low cloud on these early morning pictures. As we progressed up towards the falls, the visibility improved and the code of dress changed.
The last photo. was taken on the way down (247 steps from the viewing platform), from a clearing and looking back towards the falls. Only 90 steps and some winding pathway back to the bridge across the river.
On the way back into the town we stopped off at the local, primarily to see if the Kiwis had managed to finish England off. The pint was only a necessity to be able to watch the TV.
On the way back to the motel to collect our bags we had to pass the Post Office, saw a kea, perched on a car and called in the Information centre where an original stagecoach which used to traverse the pass before the tunnel rail link was opened.
After one last look at our motel we collected our cases and made the short journey across the road and onto the station platform. Needless to say, the train was just over 30 minutes late picking us up to Springfield,on the perimeter of the Canterbury Plains.
A couple of pics taken on the platform of Arthur's Pass station.
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