Blogs from Punakiaki, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

the title says it all........ read more

The Drive Down the West Coast of the South Island in nz is beautiful. It has such a strange combination of rugid beaches with vast Mountains boarding next to them - weird heh? We stopped in a place called westport Where I decided to try and put some of my training from Australia in surfing to the shores of New Zealand. I went to an area called Tauranga Bay well known to be a good venue for surfing. It was good fun but the water currents in nz are extremely strong not to mention all the undercurrents. I did Okay but I don't think I'm really cut out for surfing. I had a few major takeouts which were funny. We then continued South along the West Coast where we stopped in a place called Punakaiki which ... read more

I decided to stop over for a night at Punakaiki to split the journey from Nelson to Franz Josef. Punakaiki is in the Paparoa National Park and has some famous pancake rocks and blowholes. These are formations of thinly bedded limestone that has been carved over the years by the sea into interesting shapes. I soon realised that the west coast is very wet and windy, a complete change from sunny Abel Tasman. When I arrived in the rain fortunately the owner of the hostel was there to give me a lift. So after getting sorted in the hostel I headed to the Pancake Rocks. They are a pleasant attraction and quite genteel. The blowholes were not really blowing even though it was high tide, perhaps the westerly wind was not strong enough. All the same ... read more

Wednesday I had decided I had done enough walking the last few days and it was time to sit down to view the scenery so I got a 3hour water taxi up the Able Tasman coast in the morning and saw some seals- including a baby and split apple rock. The coast line is similar to golden bay- forests on big hills. I then started my 300km journey down the west coast. I stopped of at Buller Gorge with its longest swingbridge in NZ and did a superman swing back across. Not very scary but fun (photo to come). The sandflies on the other hand were not fun! I arrived in Punakaiki to stay at a place Sally had recomemnded. It is set in the woodland with only Fillipo and I staying in the house. The ... read more

After leaving Arthur's Pass, we headed North on the West Coast up to Punakiaki and Paparoa National Park. We set up my brand new tent which worked great and then walked out to the beach to watch the sun set over the sea. On Sunday we walked the short path out to look at the pancake rocks in Paparoa. After that walk we had a muffin at a cafe where the funny looking bird was walking through all the tables outside looking for food. After finishing the muffin we headed up to the northern edge of Paparoa National Park and went on the Fox River Cave Trail.... read more