Yes, there really is a Crikey Creek here. And waddling penguins. Haast is nearly at the end of the west Coast road. Only Jackson Bay, some 50 kilometres further, remains. I've been here for a couple of nights, mainly to get away from the tourist crowds. In that I was successful because no one stays long in Haast. Which is a pity because this place does have an amazing atmosphere. Backed by the southern alps and facing the Tasman Sea, Haast lies on very flat land, with native scrub and trees flanking empty fields. There is a lot of bird life, but the beach I walked on was strangely empty of anything but driftwood. Miles long, it has a desolate feeling which could, I imagine, be quite oppressive.
Now I'm off over the Haast Pass, with a woman's bicycle trailer in the back seat. I'm doing her a favour, so she doesn't have to lug it over the pass. I'll drop it off at Makarora, before continuing to Wanaka for the night.
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