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my home country from this other island nation. As connected as we Australians and New Zealanders are, it felt as though‘ the ditch’ had kept land and time well away from each other. The contrasting environments of the two nations was both astonishing and refreshing.
The sun sank lower casting a warming red glow across the land, the farmland in the near distance felt as fertile as aby land I’ d ever seen, the giant ice field beyond was cool, and yet just as enticing. I wished that we’ d been afforded more time to take closer look, and yet had to remain content that this field could remain forever especially as Te Moeka o
Tuawe, the‘ bed of Tuawe’, for it was here that Māori tradition says that Tuawe was swept to his death by an avalanche to become this glacier and his lovers tears collected and formed the nearby Franz Joseph glacier.
In that traditional lore it seems love lasts forever, and science has shown that this glacier, despite retreating for a period of over a century, began advancing in 1985 to a point of almost a metre per week. Unfortunately it is now in retreat, and if legend is correct perhaps love will come to the fore and the ice will again grow strong, with the love between Tuawe and Hine Hukatere lasting forever, as my love for this country will no doubt. MG
The bikes that Megan and her partner rode through New Zealand ' s south sialdn were a couple of Yamaha Ténéré 700s provided for a week by Rumbling Adventures out of the north island. Rumbling Adventures curate adventure rides through both of New Zealand ' s islands taking in some of the countries more remote and scenic routes. Check out rumblingadv. com to see how Tim and his team can put together an epic ride for you.
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