Hokitika by nightfall Braden Fastier
Visual journalist and his family drove the Holden Equinox from the East Coast to the West Coast of New Zealand.
We arrived at Christchurch Airport, eager to start our road trip – a 258-kilometre drive to Hokitika. We have a full tank of gas, two kids in the back, it’s early and, like Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood, we’re armed with our sunglasses. Let’s hit it!
Our journey proper starts in New Brighton to witness the sunrise, except I was the only one keen to get up that early.
Once reunited, it was time for breakfast and into the car. We stop in Darfield for a bit of blossom-spotting, then Springfield for the worldfamous doughnut (conveniently next to a playground).
On State Highway 73, we stop for some sedate rock-climbing at Castle Hill, where 4-year-old Zofia felt she was on top of Mt Everest.
Lake Pearson marked the halfway point so we celebrated with a picnic and, as Peppa Pig would say ... there are always ducks when you have a picnic.
It’s at this stage that I realise though I got up at sunrise it’s now 4pm and we need to get to Hokitika. The scenic descent to the West Coast following the Taramakau River is met with misty rain.
Was there a chance of some colour for the sunset, and would we get there in time?
The writer was a guest of Holden Equinox and drove the SUV Equinox vehicle on his Kiwi roadie.