The boutique and the quirky

Small towns have to work hard to create appealing accommodation for the tourist looking for something a little different from the usual bland motel. La Riviera in Riverton was the first one I chose for my nostalgic trip south. There was nothing like this when I first holidayed at Riverton Rocks camping ground.

More of La Riviera.

The motel I stayed in at Te Anau was bland, but I chose it for its view.

Now, in Clyde in Central Otago, my accommodation, is more provincial museum or junk shop than boutique. Not entirely comfortable. Just as well there are beautiful stone walls and views of roses scrambling over a picket fence.

*The first thing I did was to turn the lamps on to make the room more cheery.*

Provincial towns seem to attract the quirky and interesting as reflected in their businesses, such as second-hand shops.

*In a Riverton shop. I was fascinated to find the name of a relative by marriage on the dress box. There was a fair amount of steam punk, and a bit of nostalgia with the Kiwi nugget.*

In the Riverton shop I could see that many people had launched themselves enthusiastically into chicken motifs. It seemed they had all got over their obsession simultaneously.

*Opposite the Invercargill City Council is this historic WEA building.*

Invercargill clearly had ambitions in its past. (It still does, judging by the massive building project currently underway on Dee Street.) I don’t think I’ve seen another church like this one anywhere else in New Zealand. My brother and father used to sing in the choir here when we lived in Invercargill.

Bluff has its famous sign post. Clyde has one too…

An art gallery in Tuatapere is in a former BNZ building and has made a feature of the safe and telephone system.

*Could a hoarder live in this Clyde house? Another front lawn here had a collection of cannon and gold sluicing gear.*

This quirky, funny creativity puts the ostentatious display of the ‘money-papered landscape’ of Queenstown and, increasingly, Wanaka in the shade.

In Ranfurly, I visited the delightful Curiosity Shop which I had visited some years before. Now it’s on the owner’s property so she doesn’t have rent added to her running costs. I was intrigued by these glass panels made from old crystal dishes and vases and set into window frames.

In the Historic Precinct of Oamaru is a delightful design store. Many of the items for sale are designed and made by the owner. Her young daughter has contributed a collection of cards too.