Thursday 2nd
Fairlie – Rangiora

As the day progressed the norwest wind gradually increased, but otherwise the weather was fine. We left Fairlie at about 8:15 and headed for Geraldine stopping at the woollen clothing and souvenir shop on the hill overlooking the Fairlie Plain where I bought a woollen jumperfor next winter.

The Fairlie Plain with Fairlie in the left distance


Sheep, snow, a hay sheltor and mountains. Picture taken by Sally

We encountered snow over Burke Pass and Sally saw a picture of sheep in the snow (above). From there we continued on the Inland Scenic Route (72) and detoured into the Peel forest, but as the local waterfall was an hour and a half hike away we decided to skip that and headed for Mt Somers village and then inland toward the LOTR movie set which was located on Mt Sunday near the Mt Potts high country sheep station.  There was lots of snow lying around from the recent Canterbury storm.

A challenge to our trespassing. Deer farm.

Through Ashburton Gorge then Hakatere where the seal ended and was replaced with an unsealed shingle road with a large and rough road metal.

The raod to Mt Sunday (alias Edoras)

Further on we passed Clearwater Lake where there were a lot of holiday baches (cribs) and caravans. The road got rougher. At Mount Potts Cutting we pulled over to a viewing area where the whole of the glacial valley could be viewed with Mt Sunday clearly visible. Unfortunately when I stopped I heard the flap flap of a tire that was very flat. A stone had torn a large gaping hole out of the tire and it was completely ruined. There were appropriate curses and swearing from both of us. By this time the wind had increased to a near gale and while it was not cold in the car, it was freezing in the wind.

A flat tire being changed and a very agitated traveller

In the strong cool wind we had to completely unload the boot to get at the spare tire and do a wheel change. A couple in another car stopped and offered assistance but I thought we were sufficiently in control and we declined with thanks. With the spare on the car (which was fortunately inflated) and the road beginning to look even worse and the weather threatening to deteriorate and out of cell phone coverage, we decided to take photos from where we were, turn around and return very carefully over the rough gravel road.

There it was.   Edoras !  

We made for Methven where the local garage replaced the tyre ($158) and by coincidence we met up with the couple who had offered us assistance on the road. We had a 20 minute chat, bought some lunch and then continued on our journey to Rangiora.

Looking up the gorge from Mt Sunday

Views across the valley on the road back

Lilly Brooke Motel $70, rating: 5/10.
Travelled 360Km today.