Punakaiki - Lots of Walking
Trip Start
Aug 31, 2008
1
4
13
Trip End
Sep 15, 2008
Punakaiki,
South Island,
New Zealand
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
An early start for a fun filled day, first off we headed into Punakaiki to check the walking tracks were ok as the weather hadn't been great recently. We headed to Dolomite Point first to see Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, it tipped it down on during the walk but we have all the right gear to keep dry!! Next we tackled the two trek along the Pororari River Track where we we going through sub-tropical forest along the edge of the river and climbed through some limestone caves. Finally we walked the Truman Track but unfortunately the Kiwi Experience bus had just turned up so it was really busy! We had lunch then hit the road to Hokitika - The Jade Stone Town. After reading in our guide about an Eco-Centre
in this town where you could see live kiwi's we had to go. There were lots of wildlife, some huge eels and a pigeon that became Tom's friend that he named Budgee!! The kiwi's were in a dark, quiet area as they are nocturnal but you could see them prancing around. They are a really interesting animal but are in trouble as there population is in serious decline and 85% are killed before they are 6 months old! You weren't supposed to take pictures but Tom got one!! After all the excitment we drove to the coast and had a lookout but it was pouring down so we had a look in some jade shops - unfortunately everything was out of our price range. We then waited until nightfall to see a glow worm dell but went when there was still some light and it was still raining LOTS so nothing to talk about there!
