Grant and Rae's NZ Trip

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Set off from Franz Josef about 08.30 - and made our first stop within 5 mins at Lake Mapourika. Just another lake surrounded by trees! Moved on to Okaritio and wandered along the beach - some interesting rocks jutting out of the Tasman Sea. Didn't even take a pic at our next stop,Lake Ianthe.......just another lake (Francis said I was getting blase). Lake Mahinapua was more interesting (originally a coastal lagoon but now cut off from the sea) and we saw a weka (I was getting excited 'cos the weka looks a bit like a kiwi.......).Stopped off for brunch in Hokitika - quaint little place,made rich in the past from goldmining. Then on to Lake Kaniere - Rae reckons that's where the print we have in a bedroom at home was taken..........could well have been: a pretty spot. No more stops till the hotel in Greymouth which again seems very good - not quite such great views as in other places,though. In fact,Greymouth seems a bit of a dump! But we took a run out to the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki,a "stunning combination of heaving sea, luxuriant bush and dramatic rock formations" (not my words - far to poetic!). And it was well worth the visit. Unfortunately,we missed high tide by a couple of hours and the resulting blowholes caused by the incoming tide crashing against the rocks) - we saw pics of this and it lookd incredible.

Off to Christchurch tomorrow for a couple of days before heading off to San Fran on Sunday.

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Photos

Lake Mapourika....
.......and an unknown (the chance would be a fine thing) poser!

Okarito beach.....
...where there were some nice big rollers coming in.

A weka,,,,,
,,,(that's bird not the car) at Lake Mahinapua.

Lake Kaniere......
......could well be the print in Francis' bedroom.

Pancake Rocks....
,,,,,,limestone worn away by the sea.

Pancake Rocks...
......looking down into the blowhole.

Pancake Rocks.....
.....what can you see - mind games again based on the rock formations.