Mooseadventures Down Under!

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Arthur's Pass & Castle Hill

This was going to be one post, but I've cut it in half because it was getting long and there were so many good photos (thanks to Khevron, the photographer, and occasionally myself).

The first post: Searching for Greenstone & Gollum's Hotel

Link:

https://mooseadventures-downunder.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-gollum-hotel-or-why-does-that.html

February 8th

ARTHUR’S PASS

In Maori, Arthur’s pass is known as: Ka tiriti o te Moana. (which means “steep peak of glistening white”)

We walked around in Arthur’s Pass Village, which had a lot of signposts telling about how the town was settled and various buildings in it.

The Chalet

ARTHUR'S PASS

Old Bridges

Tunnels

Beautiful Scenery

Waterfall

Main Road 1645 1634

Locomotive Turntable

OTIRA RAIL TUNNEL

The Otira Rail Tunnel is 8.5 km long and was the longest tunnel in the British Empire when it opened in 1923. This tunnel is in Arthur's Pass on the South Island and it took 15 years to build. 1642 1643

Rail bridge

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

CASTLE HILL

Coming up on Castle Hill

Castle Hill is a place with otherworldly rocky outcrops made from eroded limestone foundations. In Maori, it is called Kura tawhiti, which means “treasure from a distant land”.

The wind was terrible there—so bad that both Khevron and I left our hats in the van and wore our sweaters and windbreakers.

We walked the trail, and Lareena got some 360 video and some 360 photos. Khevron did a timelapse with his phone but it was pretty twisty-turny.

Castle Hill

Video Link:

https://youtu.be/3uPA-nhTg_g

Lareena walking through the rocks of Castle Hill.

Here we are, snug in our window jackets to ward off the fierce wind. And note, we are not wearing our hats because it would blow them all away.

Apparently, it is not the location used for the Narnia/Wardrobe final battle, but it looks just like it and is not far from the actual filming location which is on private land (at Flock Hill).

Earlier in this trip we visited Elephant Rocks, which was the Narnia location for Aslan’s Camp, and perhaps some of the battle scenes.

On the way home:

A new way to dry your socks!

Mysterious low hanging mist on the road.

Porter’s Pass in New Zealand

https://youtu.be/a4NGCSmYdLM

A marvelous and well-earned Greek meal at Costas Tavernas in Christchurch.

Arrived in Christchurch where we had 3 days in an Airbnb in town.

The Gollum Hotel, or Why does That Possum have a Rifle?

February 8th

Near Greymouth

South Island, New Zealand

On February 7th, we stayed at an Airbnb in Greymouth, a welcome change from camping.

HOKITIKA

When I was a girl in elementary school, I would always look for pretty rocks on the way home, and I'm sure I had quite a collection (which my mother probably disposed of secretly when I wasn't thinking about it because I don't remember ever seeing a such a collection).

And anyway, we are packrats, so now we are collecting pretty rocks!

On our way from Greymouth, we stopped on the beach in Hokitika, which is famous for Greenstone Jade. In Maori, it’s called Pounamu and is considered a treasure for its durability and beauty. It was used for tools and ornaments.

We’d stopped at the beach briefly the night before, so this was our second trip to the Hokitika beach.

My video on the beach, introducing the Greenstone

We spent a little time looking for greenstone jade, after watching some youtube videos on how to find them.

I got soaking wet from the knees down because the waves were a little wild and came in faster than I expected.

Me on the beach. https://youtu.be/utX9SVs9m7k

We collected a bagful of treasures. Not all of them looked like jade, and we weren’t sure any of them really were jade. A few of them I just picked because they were pretty.

My video where I show the rocks I found (mostly quartz). In the end, after consulting a friend, and I'm pretty sure that none of them are Greenstone jade. But still, I'll keep some because they are pretty.

Video link Youtube

Did I Find Any Pounamu Jade?

https://youtube.com/shorts/xyW0A6LC270?si=5XQC01h_SHZSHGYZ

HEADING FOR CHRISTCHURCH

After the beach, we headed through Arthur’s Pass and on our way to Christchurch. Thus we drove from the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand to the east coast in one day.

ARTHUR’S PASS

In Maori, Arthur’s pass is known as: Ka tiriti o te Moana. (which means “steep peak of glistening white”)

We walked around in Arthur’s Pass Village, which had a lot of signposts telling about how the town was settled and various buildings in it.

Near Arthur’s Pass

Stopped for a picnic lunch, sandwiches around 1 pm.

OTIRA STAGECOACH HOTEL

Or as I call it: "The Gollum Hotel".

At some point, after lunch, as we were driving along, I could swear I'd just seen a giant Gollum on the roof of a hotel we'd passed. I had Khevron stop and we turned around and went back for a second look and sure enough--it was a giant Gollum!

We'd found the Otira Stagecoach Hotel, which was this really wacky old hotel with all sorts of interesting and unique things--it could have been a museum.

Driftwood Horse

Gandalf and a driftwood dragon

Really old cars!

1524 Other odd bits.

Tin Man

Tin Man on his bike?

Killer Jurassic Rhino, possibly possessed?

Stagecoaches

The Tin Man and his beer wagon?

The dinning room

In the restaurant, a dining table, and lots of books ...

Lots of stuffed animals. Including the creepy little rats that were sitting in chairs Why? And one important question came to my mind—why does that possum have a rifle?