I woke up around 9:30 am, feeling puzzled as the entire dorm was empty, my thoughts lingering on the elusive Mt. Sunday, the mountain I sought to visit today. There were five people sleeping here yesterday, and now they were all gone. Did I get confused again about the timezone change, like I did in Bali? No, I was sure I didn’t. Yesterday, I made sure to check the time online. With only 30 minutes left to check out, I hurried to the kitchen, grabbed some bread, and finished the leftover egg salad from yesterday. I ate as quickly as I could, brushed my teeth, and packed my bag.
I checked out exactly at 10 am. A Dutch guy was sitting there and asked where I was headed. “Down south,” I told him. Today, my plan was to find Mount Sunday, the mountain used in Lord of the Rings as the set for Edoras. In the end, I did not find it, but more on that later.
Snapshots of the devastated Christchurch and a stop at the Botanical Gardens
I initially drove around Christchurch, aiming to kill time and wait until 1 pm when the shops would open. It was Anzac Day, a memorial day for the First and Second World War. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible, and I felt quite disappointed. The forecast I checked online yesterday had promised a sunny day.
I took several pictures outside and inside the car while driving around Christchurch. It’s heartbreaking to witness how this city, once bustling, was completely destroyed by an earthquake. The signs of devastation were omnipresent: bumpy roads, ongoing road works, buildings behind fences, and fenced terrains filled with debris.
I circled around and made a stop at the Botanical Gardens. While sitting in my car and sipping on a Coke, a light drizzle began, dampening my spirits. I felt a bit down as I had anticipated a sunny day like the one before. However, a glimpse in my side mirror revealed a promising sight—blue skies on the horizon, giving me a glimmer of hope. Determined, I drove around, searching for a restroom. Ten minutes later, the skies cleared up again. Spotting a McDonald’s, I made a quick stop before deciding to head south, planning to find a supermarket in another location. Driving toward the city outskirts, I passed through the CBD (last three pictures above). The atmosphere was peculiar— a charming town center, yet eerily devoid of any people.
Arrival in Darfield, a bakery stop, and a visit to Lake Coleridge
I headed south and navigated my way to Darfield. Faced with two options for southern routes, I chose the northern one that led to the Southern Alps. My destination was Mount Somers, and from there, I planned to drive north. The highway treated me well—minimal traffic, well-maintained roads, and picturesque views, all complemented by fantastic weather.
Approximately 45 minutes later, I reached Darfield. During the journey, I made a brief stop to take a break and capture some photographs.
Following the pit stop for a restroom break (conveniently located across the road at a gas station), I continued my journey further north. Within just 2 minutes, I came across a lookout point that demanded my attention. The scenery was too beautiful to pass by without a pause. The vast fields filled with numerous sheep were truly remarkable—I estimate having seen thousands of sheep in the past 30 minutes alone. This region was characterized by expansive farmland, featuring large fields accompanied by impressive mechanical machines, likely utilized for irrigating the fields with water, resembling a sophisticated sprinkler system.
The nearby vistas of the Southern Alps were already captivating, but I anticipated an even more spectacular view an hour later. Continuing my journey, I soon found myself in Darfield. After a brief exploration, I made a stop at a bustling bakery where patrons were enjoying their meals. Opting for practicality, I purchased two packs of sandwiches for later use. As I resumed my drive, I headed toward the road that stretched south, connecting to the main route leading to Queenstown. My turn toward the mountains awaited after covering approximately 20 kilometers.
I made a turn, only to discover later that it was the wrong one as I reached the road’s conclusion. Nevertheless, I continued past mountains, seizing the opportunity to make a few stops and immortalize the incredible scenery through my lens.
Realizing I had taken the wrong turnoff and ended up in Lake Coleridge, I acknowledged the mistake but appreciated the incredible surroundings. In a small forest village, surrounded by beautiful yellow and red trees, I stopped to eat my sandwich. Knowing I had limited time with the tour booked for Lake Tekapo tomorrow, approximately 250 kilometers away, I decided to retrace my route back to the main road and find the correct turnoff to witness the mountain today.
Scenic Discoveries on the Road
Covering 55 kilometers at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour, I returned to the main road. Heading south once more, I realized I needed fuel again, despite having filled up in Christchurch for 80 dollars. Along the way, I discovered a scenic spot, stopping before a bridge at Rakaia River. I walked to the river’s edge, compelled to capture the picturesque scene with a few photographs.
The river views were pleasant and oddly reminiscent of scenes from Lord of the Rings, particularly the place where the fellowship left the river at the end of the first movie. However, this wasn’t a movie location. I spent about 10 minutes there, soaking in the scenery before continuing over the bridge. The road had a slight incline from that point (as seen in the last picture above). My next destination was Methven, a town 10 kilometers south of the main road, to refuel. After a $35 fill-up that left my tank full, I retraced my route back to the main road.
Continuing south, I reached Mt. Somers after 30 minutes. I turned off there, driving 50 kilometers north again. The final 10 kilometers were gravel, confirming that I was in the right place. This was undoubtedly the location of Mount Sunday, unmistakably resembling the land of ‘Rohan’ (a reference to Lord of the Rings).
The search for Mount Sunday abandoned due to gravel road
The lengthy and challenging gravel road led me to Lake Clearwater Reserve, a small village catering to holidaymakers. Frustrated and unable to locate the mountain, I decided to abandon the search, considering the adverse effects of the gravel on the car. I drove to a picturesque spot and captured one last image of another nearby lake (seen in the first picture below). It was later revealed that Mount Sunday was situated behind that area, another 15 kilometer drive along the gravel road and requiring a hike to reach it. Moreover, it was on private property, accessible only through tour companies.
I returned to the village, making a left turn back onto the gravel road. The country’s beauty tempted me to prolong my stay, but with a tour booked for tomorrow, I had to adhere to my schedule. As the clock struck 5 o’clock, the sun began its descent. In different circumstances, I might have stayed overnight to further explore and uncover the secrets of the mountain. However, the allure of an exciting tour starting at Lake Tekapo the next day was too compelling to miss.
Thirty minutes later, I completed the gravel road (10 km, driving cautiously to avoid car damage), and another half-hour passed before I rejoined the main road. Heading south toward Geraldine, I spotted a Subway along the main road and decided to stop for dinner. Following the meal, I fueled up at the gas station on the opposite side of the road, ensuring the tank was full once again.
It was around 7 pm, and I still had to reach the camping site—a free campsite located 30 km from my current position. As I continued driving, the darkness shrouded the landscape, limiting my visibility. It was then that I became aware of the unfortunate toll on wildlife. Unlike in Australia, where I had seen a few deceased koalas and kangaroos by the roadside, here, numerous small animals had met a similar fate. This realization would become even more apparent the next day, with eagles scavenging on the roadkill.
Arrival at the campsite near Fairlie
Thirty minutes later, I took a northward turn to reach the campsite, situated approximately 5-10 kilometers north of Fairlie, a small town. Upon parking my car, I discovered a well-maintained, flushing toilet facility. Several people were already camping in the area. I spent the evening watching series and working on some tasks. However, sleep proved elusive, perhaps due to the disorienting time difference (my body still operating on an 11 pm schedule) and the biting cold. The temperature dropped to such an extent that around 4 am, I found myself compelled to don my winter jacket for added warmth.
