Kaum zu glauben – während im Westen die Südinsel völlig absäuft, Wanderwege weggespült werden, Wanderer aus Flussbetten geborgen werden – sitzen wir im Osten an staubtrockenen Stränden in der Sonne. Heute an dem bislang nettesten kostenlosen Stellplatz südlich von Timaru.

While the wild west is getting a horrible drenching, that has destroyed hiking paths and has already brought a few hikers in dire straights, so that they had to be rescued, we are trying to avoid the sun on every occasion. Today we camp at a lovely freedom camping spot south of Timaru – east coast. It is hard to believe, that elsewhere it is so different.