March 4, 2014. Westport, New Zealand. Birds Ferry Lodge.

Today we drove across the South Island. It was a lovely drive and it took us four hours, crossing the Lewis Pass and through the Butler Gorge. Once again we were fortunate with the weather. The east coast is having a storm today with high winds and heavy rain but we left before the storm arrived to head west, so we had a perfect day. The scenery all the way was spectacular. I was pleased to be a passenger rather than the driver. Our lodge is not right on the sea, but from where I am sitting, I am high enough to overlook a deep valley and then the Tasman Sea. Our hosts built this home ten years ago, always with the intention of running a lodge or B&B. Alison is Scottish and Andre is South African. They met at a wedding 11 years ago, got married soon after and decided to settle on the west coast of New Zealand, which is the least populated part of New Zealand. This home is beautiful both in design and decor. It is sparsely but beautifully decorated too. This a real estate agents dream. Our lunch was eaten in a mining town. In the 19th century, gold was discovered but after twenty years, the gold ran out so the town died. Now with the price of gold so high, individuals are mining again so the town is booming. Of course, we sat right in the middle of the mountains. We have come to expect excellent food in New Zealand, even in the smallest cafes and towns. We are thoroughly enjoying New Zealand…and Birds Ferry Lodge.