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Published: October 5th 2005
Lake Matheson
The lingering clouds cover up the peaks of mt cook and mt tasman :(Drive from Fox Glacier to Punakaiki
As if to spite us, the sun decided to come out and shine on the day we left Fox glacier- after it had rained non stop for 2 and a half days. But we took full advantage of the sunshine and stopped at Lake Matheson on our way out of town. Lake Matheson is considered NZ's most photographed lake, due to its mirrored image of Mt. Tasman and Mt. Cook(the tallest peak in NZ). We walked the circle around the lake, through yet another bush clad NZ forest and made our way to the lakefront. what a beautiful body of water, hidden amongst trees and ducks and flax grass, and smack dab in the middle of some dairy and sheep farms. hopefully my photos will suffice.
After the lake walk we drove a scenic and sunny route along the windy West Coast Hwy. We stopped in the sleepy town of Hokitika, a halfway point for us and a good opportunity for a lunch break and a beach walk. Driving in NZ is rather confusing with their oneway bridges (Yes one way!) they want to save money apparently so they just skip out on
adding the extra driving lane. SO all bridges are one lane with a right of way sign which alternates at every bridge crossing. its the dumbest thing ive ever heard of. SO needless to say I was ready for a quiet walk along the driftwood beaches of Hokitika.
We continued our drive, and as we neared the destination of Punakaiki the sun was begining to go down. So we stopped at Paparoa national park to see the natural wonder of the Pancake rocks before heading to the hostel.
This stop is one of my favorite palces on our trip itinerary. The pancake rocks are just absolutely out of this world! Built over time from deposited sediment(i.e shell fragments, dead sea specimens, rocks, sand, salt etc) the rocks are pushed up from the ground until they are these HUGE stacks of rock formed into layers. From wind and water and erosion the rocks look like a giant has come along and blown on them so they are leaning into the wind. The heavy surf from the Tasman sea comes along and crash lands into the Rocks , which creates a loud boom and at times esp. high tide the
waves and sea spray come up rom the sea in between the rocks to create Big Blowholes!
We watched the sun set over the tasman and the rocks and I just felt such a sense of comfort to be by the ocean. We even met a fellow american turned NZ citizen who took a photo for us, she inspired me to move somewhere exotic for a while but then i rememberd oh wait, i am living somewhere exotic!
After the rock walk, we checked into our Beach hostel for the night. Sitting right on the beach of the tasman sea, the hostel is a quaint beachhouse built with colorful wood and decorated with driftwood and seashells found from the backyard seashore. We made dinner and grabbed a few beers from the only pub in punakaiki and wrote in our journals. We fell asleep to the sounds of the tasman waves, and I couldnt help but miss the Atlantic. I guess i'll just make friends with the tasman and the south pacific while im away!- Cheers mates, Shelly
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Mommy
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Gorgeous vistas Shelly! Surely you must keep pinching yourself, to see if it's not all a dream! What a breathtaking view of the Tasman Sea, and the Pancake Rocks, etc. You asked if we could see something in one of the rock profiles...yes! It reminds me of someone we know...someone who resembles the likes of a baboon! Ha! And your sunset pics are lovely too, Shell. Looks like you three girls are really enjoying your spring break adventure to the fullest, indeed! I wonder what's next on your "hit list!" Can't wait until next time, SWAK! Mommy