The first time my wife and I went to New Zealand and because I had a medical situation that hadn't been sorted out yet, we decided to drive from the southern ti

The first time my wife and I went to New Zealand and because I had a medical situation that hadn't been sorted out yet, we decided to drive from the southern tip of the South Island, up to the northern tip and then ferry the car to the North Island and drive up to Auckland. The sights were amazing! On day we were going along a winding road, gaining altitude, when suddenly we rounded a corner and were shocked to see what we later found out to be a strip mining operation. The land changed from brilliant green hills and aqua colored small lakes to the ugliest washed out light and dark browns I'd ever seen. It almost made us tear up.