We flew from Auckland,NZ on the north island to Nelson, NZ on the South island, with Air New Zealand. It's a 90 minute flight, but a world of difference! Very few cows, more sheep. Also Lots of diverse farms including Hops, berries, & many others. I went through another very long dark tunnel from an old railway, but most of the GTT is hilly and not a rail trail, and I prefer that. I ended my day climbing on what seemed like an endless gravel road until it turned and greeted me with a wonderful open plain area. The owners are really nice. Their dogs are friendly. They have a waterfall and an open-air bathtub in their back yard! They run on solar power and the water is from the stream. it's a wonderful little paradise located at the edge of Kahurangi National Park, which is an expansive area. What an amazing place and the cottage was decorated nicely by the wife and built by the husband from local wood on the counters and shelves. Very nice!
I can't post photos until tomorrow bc the Internet here is very slow and intermittent.