So we leave the caravan park and we drive a short way back north to head east over the Arthur’s Pass road. We stop off at the Tunnel Terrace work, near Kumara Junction. This was one of the places I’d considered free camping on the last trip (that was before day one last year tanked!)
This is all an old goldmining area. The walk is only about 30 odd minutes, it starts as a tunnel though the rock, which is pretty narrow and dark. Then the trail wanders around the gullies of this rain forest area with the odd bit of old rusting mining gear laying around. Finally the loop drops us back onto the road about 100mts or so up from where we started at the car park.
A quick stop at the Otira Rock Shelter and Falls lookout. Apparently they got so sick and tired of clearing slips in this area they just build the rock shelter and figured, “let it rip” similarly with the Falls. A about another K or two is the Otira viaduct. They’ve placed the bridge like roadway in the centre of the valley as the road kept getting covered in slips. Serious engineering needed out here. It was so dark and raining last time, we didn’t get to see them properly. At both stops there are Kias everywhere, again people probably feed them.
Otira Rock Shelter and Falls 
Pesky Kias 
Otira viaduct
Into the town of Arthur’s Pass and we have some lunch and then take the walk to Devils Punchbowl Falls. It’s only meant to be about a K, but they didn’t mention all the stairs!
Anyway the waterfall is pretty impressive, although everyone wants to get the “drinking” shot
By the time we get back to the carpark, we’re all a bit buggered.
We keep driving easts and there is meant to be a campsite beside the highway at Lake Pearson. When we get there, big sections seem to be roped off and it is really just a carpark rest area right beside the highway, so it’s not the best location.
We review out options and see another campground about 10km back. It’s meant to be the start of a bushwalk (They call them “tramps” or “Tramping” here). We head back, and turn off the highway. We cross a narrow bridge over the river and pull into the campground. It’s a really large area. There are a few cars here, but no sign of anyone, they must be on their tramp. We park up near the shelter.
We take a tramp ourselves down to the river and the kids have fun running around. I keep saying it, but the scenery here is just breathtaking.
Dueling 
Photos
Back to the shelter and we realise that they allow fires in the shelter fireplace. It’s one of those odd things in NZ, no campfire anywhere ever without a permit, and I’ve got no idea what’s involved in getting a permit. So we go foraging for wood, trouble is, it is all wet, but we scrounge up some the best we can and have our first pathetic fire. But the kids love it.
While were here a young French? couple turn up in a transit type van, they’re working down Amberley way and are having a weekend away. They need the shelter to cook and are very appreciative of the fire. Boy is it going to be cold for them tonight.
