Part 2 of 2

UPDATED:  A video of the Kea has been added to this post

After finishing our helicopter flight, we had lunch and began the drive to Christchurch.  The drive is just under 400km, and would take us about six hours including breaks and photo stops.

The drive continues up the west coast of to the Hokitika area, at which point we turn east through the mountains, wind our way across Arthur’s Pass, and eventually into Christchurch on the east coast.

Driving up the west coast, we’re still in the rainforest, and the vegetation is very green and lush.

Beginning the drive east into the mountains, the cloud cover continued, with some breaks of clear sky.

The drive across the mountains was stunning.

Driving through the Otira Gorge.

At every photo stop through this area, we had to contend with the Kea, which is the alpine parrot native to this part of the South Island.  They are said to be the world’s smartest bird.  They can be a pain, because you cannot leave your vehicle unattended, or they will literally eat it.  As you’re dealing with one Kea, it’s friends will be behind your back eating the rubber trim off of your windows and windshield wipers!

Here is a Kea trying to eat our roof rack after I finished getting him away from the radio antenna.

 

After we got in the car to get back on the road, we had difficulty getting rid of one of the Kea.  Here’s a short video of the event.

At this particular stop, we had to contend with about eight birds.  They make it difficult to take photos of the scenery, because you really can’t turn your back for long.

Here’s the little bugger that was attacking my tire while I tried to photograph the viaduct below!

Nadine with her new friend!

And this is what we really stopped to photograph in the first place.  Before this viaduct was built, the road used to wind its way through this gorge.

Once through Arthur’s Pass and on the other side of the mountains, the skies started to clear a bit, but it was getting dark, so we didn’t take too many more photos.