The Rocks Homestay Punakaiki

... from Christchurch so we also got the low down on what to do when we get to Christchurch which was good!!  The guy running the day was a really good laugh and such a craftsman.  We were amazed at the quality of the knife that we took home at the end of the day...you will also be amazed when you see them!!!  

After i left Arthurs pass village i drove across the rest of the path and along the lake brummer shore, i stopped in greymouth for food and petrol and the drove upto punakaiki on the west coast. was a tiny village of about 3 house and a shop. i walked from my very nice hostel cabin in the rainforest along Truman track to the beach. was a nice stoney beach with some nice views and interesting rock overhangs ...

... biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day.

Feeling pretty pleased with ourselves we drove up the coast to Punakaiki, stopping off for lunch (soup on the camper gas ring) and to cross the Buller Gorge Swing Boat... we were hoping to go jet boating but the rivers are all too high. In Punakaiki we checked out a cave overlooking the the sea and sat on a beautiful beach to watch the sun set. We then had yummy burgers in the local pub (the only pub).

Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand yelleandjon

... in for a penny in for a pound! We head up the Lewis Pass and travel trough the southern alps, the weather today is amazing and i am in ore just looking out of the window as the land scape is mind blowing. West reach West Port and all stop at the same backpackers, i get chatting to a few lads and we all end up down the local boozer for a few beers and a good night. Tomorrow i head to Karamea to meet my help exchange hosts?!!

... in walks to glacial lakes, waterfalls etc. The streams running down from the mountains were crystal clear and the views amazing and no we didn't need the snow chains, thankfully. We also encountered the Kea's, which are mountain parrots, and like most parrots they are pretty confident birds and try to eat the rubber on the cars, we had to drive off with them on the roof of the car! Mid-afternoon we arrived at Milford Sound and boarded our ship, excited by the prospect of ...

... Paradise (where it was shot) as unmade road for 25k.Not a raod to take Shelly on. so we found ourselves a lovely walk to do around Lake Rere. 5 Hrs return hike. The route took us passed Grennstone river on the way out which has Jade green pools and the a few meters along ice blue water. To many rapids for rafting so will leave that for another day. We scramble over lands slides and rock falls and over streams ...

Sadly, our flycatching efforts did not succeed in wiping our their entire contingent and so we were woken first on my birthday morning by the whine of a survivor. Looking outside, the weather didn't look too promising either - a wild, windy, drizzly morning seemingly presented as a reminder of November back home. Nevertheless, we dressed and set out, driving the short distance to the carpark for Wharariki Beach. Donning waterproods ...

... Had a look at it, sat in the drivers seat, decided that "somebody's short" (I had been driving) and reckoned the thermostat was gone and the engine was "cooked". Actually, his exact words when the engine started gurgling was "F#*kin' A"!! Like I said, a man of many words... I think that's literally all he said. He rang "Wicked" the company that we rented it from but the office was closed (of course) so there we were. Stuck in Westport. Grey little mining town where everything ...

... to the other side and started the drove north, the sun
started going down which made it a gorgeous windy drive right alongside
the ocean, on the windy cliffsides of highway 6- exactly like Big Sur.
We rushed to get to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowhole ...