In just a few miles the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps appear as a backdrop to the rolling green hills we have seen the past few days. We are entering the country of vast mountain lakes, Hauroko, Monowai, Manapouri (our destination for today), and Te Anau and rivers that direct the huge mountain rains out to sea. Most if not all have been harnessed to some degree for power generation but still seem wonderfully wild.
Like our redwoods, NZ has a gigantic native tree, the Totara. They are fighting to protect the few remaining stands of virgin timber that contain them. We have to check out the reserve and big Totora Walk so Kent takes on an 18 km narrow and getting narrower gravel road that includes a wait for cattle to cross and a bunch of one lane bridges. Much like the redwoods, the giant trees are awesome and one has to be grateful that somebody had the fore-thought to protect at least some of them.
We come across a manmade wonder, the Clifden suspension bridge. The span was built 1899 and still stands. It carries foot and bicycle traffic now instead of heavy loads of livestock, lumber, and wool but still impressive.
Home sweet home for the night The Possum Lodge. Eclectic and friendly. Gotta love it.