When we told people we were staying at Greymouth for a few days their immediate response was WHY?

Well there's Monteith's Brewery for a start. My favourite tipple in NZ. You can even buy it in Waitrose.

Secondly we wanted to go to Arthur's Pass which is renowned for a number of good full day / half day walks.

On the way to Arthur's Pass we decided to stop at one of the viewing points. Immediately our car was surrounded by Kea's (parrots) who then tried to eat the rubber seal around the windows, windscreen wipers etc. Very bizzare and highly amusing. The birds are almost fearless.

Our stay was rounded off by a few drinks in the local Irish pub. Much to our amusement a couple of drunk old-timers were having a sing song accompanied by a guitar and a coal shovel played with a two dollar coin!