Hoki-Tacky!

We arrived at Hokitika with some great expectations - although it wasn't quite what we were expecting!!  Nonetheless, we had a nice stay in a really pleasant hostel and did get to see some a glow-worm grotto!

Hokitika is well known  for its jade in New Zealand, although it was a bit of a mass-produced effort - "where was the love"?!  Nearly every shop in the town centre has something to do with Jade, although most shops were selling almost exactly the same types of products.  We didn't feel tempted to buy anything.

In the evening we walked along from our hostel to a glow-worm grotto.  We went at the right time - just as the sun was going down.  It was initially peaceful until a German couple decided "zat zey had vays of making you not glow" by shining a torch at the glowworms (who obviously start to "turn-off" their glowing!).  Eventually, more and more glow-worms started illuminating themselves - it was a really strange sight.

Our next trip was a bit further down the coast - Franz Joseph GLacier Village.