tramping new zealand

With rain predicted over the next few days, I decided to hunker down for three nights in Invercargill and let the worst of it pass on by. No need to drive through heavy rain.

Invercargill is an interesting city with numerous historic buildings that hint at a more prosperous past. It was good to spend some time between the winter squalls, wandering the inner-city streets and checking out the old architecture once again.

Since I’ve been coming here over the last 12 years after my return to New Zealand, the main shopping street has been modernised with the demolition of almost all of one side of much of the block, and the building of a substantial shopping centre in its place.

Does that make up for the closure of H & J Smith after 128 years?

There’s also a new City Council building, so the centre is looking a little less 19th-century.

I guess I’ve been dithering around for a while, but I thought I should have another overnighter around Te Anau before I hit the West Coast. Maybe have a look around there for a couple of nights.

By the way, my knee was feeling better with a lot of doing not much.