From Christchurch, we took our wildly overpriced subcompact west toward Hokitika and the Hokitika Gorge. The closest place we could find was about 30 minutes from town. A “deluxe” stay with cement floors and plywood walls. On the plus side, there was hot water.
Hokitika itself has a beautiful beach, mountains rising in the background. Despite the town being fully booked, the beach was nearly empty, which made for long, quiet walks. The town has a bit of a low-end tourist shop vibe, but the setting more than makes up for it.
At dinner I had a fermented alcoholic ginger beer that was genuinely refreshing and thirst-quenching. I liked it a lot. I followed that with a mini bottle of Deutz Marlborough Cuvée NV — the NZ partnership between Deutz in Champagne and a Marlborough producer. Pinot/Chardonnay blend. A little riper and less mineral than Deutz from Aÿ, of course, but honestly quite good. Easy to drink and well made.
The next day we hiked Hokitika Gorge — a beautiful walk through temperate rainforest, crossing several suspension footbridges over that unreal blue water colored by glacial mineral runoff. The color looks filtered, but it isn’t.
The gorge was one of those places that makes all the logistical challenges worthwhile.
Next stops: Franz Josef village, Lake Matheson, Haast, Wanaka, Mt. Cook Village, and Queenstown, where we are now, before heading north to Russell on the North Island.
More New Zealand photos, wines, and champagne to follow.
If you want to check out a NZ travel post with much better stories and photos than mine, check this out from @MadsW. I hadn’t seen it until now, and it puts mine to shame.