How do you avoid tourists?

Friday 12th. I suppose that the answer to the above is: don't go where the tourists go. However, today we had to cross Arthur's Pass, the only place for us to get to the West coast without going a long way round. We set off in wrap around panorama mode travelling straight for the mountains. 

The drive up to Arthur's Pass was breathtaking. At the bottom of the pass a notice advised that the route was not recommended for towing vehicles. But we followed several commercial trucks that comprised of tractor unit plus load and trailer. Now, if that's not a towing vehicle, I don't know what is. 

We stopped several times on the way and just had to take a picture of the (Chinese) tourists. 

At Arthur's Pass village we avoided all tourists by popping into the church. Once again, a church with a picture window but this one facing a stunning waterfall. 

Again we took a short hike around the village, sussed out where all the coaches stopped and then went to another cafe, the Wobbly Kea, for our own lunch. The place was virtually empty but just as we were starting on our soup (homemade tomato) some discerning coach party members crossed the road and came and joined us. 

After lunch we tried to locate a short walk nearby. Unfortunately we didn't find where it started so we stopped instead at the next lookout at 'Death Corner'. 

Brigid's found out how to take panorama pictures on the iPad. So now we have movies, stills, panoramas, some on iPad, some on camera, some on video. 

I also managed to snap a shot of a Kea in the wild. They had been around in the village but were semi-tame, eating scraps from the tables. The Kea is an alpine parrot and very intelligent. 

And, guess what? Just as we were about to leave the lookout a coach load of tourists turned up. I think they're following us! 

The drive continued through the mountains past traditional inns and villages until eventually we came to Hokitika on the coast. From the plains to the mountains to the coast, all in one day! 

We had a brief look around the town before meeting our new hosts David and Glynis, a lovely couple who have their own problems with Chinese tourists. It seems that they just turn up without saying that they are bringing their children with them - so it's a last minute sorting out extra beds, etc. 

Note the lack of gates at the railway crossing. 

In the evening we walked into town for supper in Stumpers. Very good value for money and very popular with the locals. 

Brigid had venison 

and I had ribeye steak. 

Sun just going down as we walk back to our B&B.