First impressions of New Zealand's South Island

It's big and it's untamed. And so little inhabitation. So few people, you can easily feel you are the only people around for miles.
I didn't think I would ever say this - but driving in the car is a pleasure. We drove round for 4 days on the west side of South Island without seeing a set of traffic lights. At the same time, the views from the car window were dramatic.
Epic scenery on a vast scale - imagine England's Lake District but expanded to the size of the UK. Carolyn and I had memories of South Africa's Southern Cape when we did the Garden Route with Mum/Gwen).

(below: snow covered mountains from th coast road)

(below: watching blocks of ice being swept down the Franz Josef river after falling off the glacier).