into the wild wild west

So where did we get to, oh yeah we'd just entered the West coast of NZ. We were lucky (or unlucky depending on your tastes) to stumble across a great NZ cultural experience, the Hokitika wild food festival! This festival not only celebrates wild foods such as

worms in red bull

kina (spiky fish)

Archie loved this stand

and of course

honey ice cream covered in pollen

Foods we didn't partake in.....

wood grubs (fresh from the log)

scorpions

Crickets

can you guess what they are yet?

mmm mountain oysters

but also everyone who attends feels it is necessary to dress up for the occasion

A gaggle of geishas

Archie wasn't too sure about the whole thing

but all was well at the end of the day on the beach (well, until the sand flies ruined the moment)

...No wonder these West Coasters are crazy