Monday 16 January 2012

Day 288: Arrowtown Stream


When I first visited New Zealand, 3 years ago, I didn't really know how to appreciate the more human structures.  Now, I really notice how much the Australians and New Zealanders are good at building and using public hang out spaces.  In lots of the cities I've seen stairs that don't go anywhere and are designed purely for hanging out (or loitering as it may be termed in the US).  There is nothing easier than finding a place to picnic - with a few other people picnicking in it!  All the cafes and bars are beautifully designed for hanging out with low sofas, armchairs and big tables that have 'spend your day here' written all over them.  It's very cosy and relaxing.  But moving on...

The photo above is Mike and Antonia panning for gold in the stream at Arrowtown using coffee cup lids.  Mike just said he'd 'caught one but it got away.'  Honestly, while there might be a tiny bit of gold somewhere in this river, its heyday as a gold rush community is long over and now it is just idyllic.

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