Standing on the narrow bridge, I was admiring the expanse of the fast-flowing Whataroa braided river on the wild west coast of South Island New Zealand. A black four-by-four drew up. “Did I fancy a helicopter trip above the snow-line of the Southern Alps?” We negotiated an irresistible price and I joined three others and the pilot in a tiny Hughes 500 helicopter. Heading south at first, we flew above State Highway 6, along which I was engaged in a photo-project. A real bonus to get some shots of the road from several hundred feet. Gaining height the pilot turned inland, flying first over the Franz Joseph Glacier, then higher still over the Fox Glacier to land on the high plateau. Strange to be walking on the ice, basking in sunshine, dressed in a tee shirt. Cameras where popping everywhere. After taking-off again we attempted to get over the Main Divide for a view of Mount Cook but some serious buffeting soon put paid to that. So then, just some breathtaking views of snow-propped mountain peaks, serpent glaciers snaking downwards towards the sea and ice-encrusted cirque edges hiding dark and mysterious gullies. Following the descent of the Gunn River until it joined the Whataroa, we arrived back at the grassy knoll that passes for the helipad on the riverbank. I hung about watching a party of four kayakers take off next, complete with their four kayaks slung below the aircraft in a cargo net. This is a place for high-tech machinery and high adrenalin adventure to come together in harmony.

Just as we were coming into land, I had spotted a white heron standing on a rock at the edge of the water and went in search of it. It had gone, but I found Michael instead. Well-protected against the sand-flies, he has spent the last six months turning rocks and shovelling sand into a water trough prospecting for gold on the river-bank. And he has been moderately successful- he showed me today’s catch. It didn’t look a lot for all that graft but it must bring it’s rewards.    None of this had been on my agenda for today but carpe diem also brings its own rewards.  What a splendid way to spend Sunday morning.