NZ West Coast

Imagine that you have entered an alternate reality, and your surroundings are like the California coast along Big Sur where mountains crowd right down to meet the sea ... only there are no mobs of people there.  Virtually deserted.  That is in essence my impression of the west coast of south island New Zealand -- gorgeous coastline, few people.  Wow!

Starting off from Christchurch with our group of fourteen plus two REI guides, Rossco and Nicole, we drove west over Arthur's Pass in the Southern Alps toward the seaside village of Punakaiki.  We had several good short hikes there, saw a glow worm grotto, Paparoa National Park and the Pancake Rocks.

Pancake Rocks, stacked limestone layers.

The beach on the Tasman Sea is largely these discs of eroded limestone

Next day we were off toward Okarito, where we would spend two nights, passing Hokitika on the way.

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Okarito had wet weather, not unexpected in an area that is known to have as much as 250 rainy days a year.  Not my kind of climate.  

 

After an hour or two of drenched kayaking we built a roaring fire and dried out.  Nicole put together some Pavlova for dessert:

Walking after dark around tiny Okarito Shannon and I for the first time managed to see with some degree of clarity the Southern Cross.  As an extra added bonus we heard kiwis calling in the bush.  Click the kiwi link on here:      http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/birdsong.html    

To me they sound like frogs croaking/whistling.  We never actually saw one.  Kiwis are the only birds with nostrils at the end of their long beaks.

And next day were off again, toward Wanaka, passing Bruce Bay and visiting Fox Glacier along the way.

Bruce Bay Beach

Ironic, eh?

That is Fox Glacier, right above my shoulder

The rapid rate of melting and recession is alarming.

After a night in Wanaka we had a fun hike to the top of Rocky Mountain. That's certainly a place name I'm comfortable with.  Lake Wanaka in the background.

Ross Daubney, our fearless leader