The Wet Coast

It is technically summer in New Zealand, but it continues to feel more like springtime. What I mean by that is that it’s still raining…a lot. Our trip to the South Island was no exception. It rained about 75% of our trip. The scenic drive in the Southern Alps through Arthur’s Pass was impressive, but when clouds are covering the mountains and the visibility isn’t great….you lose a little bit. However we were able to sneak in a few pictures of the landscape when it wasn’t pouring:

We stayed in a small town on the West Coast, Greymouth. A pretty non descript town. The one thing they did have going for it was that it’s the home on Monteith’s Brewery. Just happens to be the best brewer in New Zealand (in my opinion). We went for a tour and tasting. They even put me to work:

We did run into one of the local celebrities, the Kea. A type of parrot that lives in the mountains, this bird is known for its intelligence and curiosity. Three were waiting in the rain outside the two restaurants in the small town of Arthur’s Pass as we stopped for lunch. They were not in the least bit afraid of human interaction or cars. Apparently they are known as the “Clowns of the Mountains” for how interactive they are with humans. The locals warn of not feeding them as they can become dependent on handouts which danger their natural survival skills.