Thought I had better start dating these blogs as most of the readers will be in UK/Europe! As when I talk about yesterday it will your today, and our today is your tomorrow......NZ being 13hrs ahead of the UK at present.
So! The day before yesterday (work that out!....it was our Monday) we drove over the most famous mountain pass in NZ. The mountains approached with the areas old snow and two glaciers in view.
After stopping in the village to look at the Information Centre we made our way to the car park for the Punchbowl Falls. The walk which took 25minutes each way, went up steeply via steps and wooden ladder, levelling out from time to time, through the bush. Wonderful rain forest with mossy tree bark, and the sound of the waterfall. Of course if you go up, you have to go down again, and so we did to the lookout point. Worth the walk to see these 131m falls.
Once back on the road heading for the Otira Gorge, I kept noticing signs about steep gradients and it not being suitable for towing vehicles, but this is a main east-west route with some trucks on it, so it can’t be that bad, I thought!! Oh Wow! Quite quickly I felt as though I was driving off the end of the world! The road is good, but the 16% incline went on for several km, the steep assist function was engaged once again! Suffice it to say the drive down was spectacular, but I do not have any photos!!
We were aiming for Greymouth, but took at the Lake Brunner detour stopping at the Brunner Industrial site, a self guided walk around site of the 1800s coal mine site At one time there was major industry there, not just the mining, but coke ovens and brick making too. Well worth a look if you are in the area.
We then drove on to Greymouth did some shopping, filled up with fuel (very cheap, especially as we had 40c/litre off coupon from New World) then we drove across the Grey River, turned immediately left and drove out to find another ‘Wildernesst’ by the sea. There are several camping spots along this road, but they were not easy to access in this van so we ended up at the road end. This coast line is wild with stony beaches and lots of driftwood, and the sunsets are amazing.
Weather: warm and sunny
Total km 153.
Yesterday morning we walked from the van along the Point Elizabeth Lookout trail, 45min each way. The path went out up onto the cliff then through native bush. There were interpretive signs along the way with info about the plants and trees. Black Tree Fern, a special form of cress etc. A decent little walk to begin the day.
We set off about 11.0am back to the Grey River Bridge then left and north toward Westport. We had been driving about 10 minutes when I saw a sign for Cafe and Quilt Shop, and had to stop, we needed a coffee!!! The Pink Possum Quilt Shop is amazing, a full range of quilting paraphernalia and lots of fabric. The ladies there design and make kits. An American lady from Texas was there and was learning to do her first English pieced patchwork and was making a crazy log cabin quilt inspired by an Andy Warhol print. Her colours were fantastic. We had a coffee and I bought a couple of fat quarters, then we were on our way again.
The West Coast is a ‘must see’ in our book, I think we have been over here at least three times. The scenery is stunning. High rocky forested cliffs and dark blue/grey mountains to one side the the rolling sea, sandy and pebbly beaches to the other.
We drove through Punakaiki, home of the famous blow holes, as we have seen them before. Eventually the road leaves the coastline to cross farmland to Westport. We stopped for lunch by the river and the found New World which has a public dump station in the car park. Thank goodness for the internet, we needed to dump our waste again before moving on. I did the small amount shopping we needed and left M to deal with that department!!
We needed a washing machine and rather than stay in a very commercial holiday park we drove north up the Karamea coast road to a delightful place called Gentle Annies. It is located on the north side of the mouth of the Mokihinui River and that is exactly where we parked. This campsite has been voted the 3rd best in NZ apparently. Certainly the welcome was very friendly, there is a lovely relaxed atmosphere with honesty boxes for the washing machine and shower. The cafe does delicious baked goods, there is a bbq and a pizza oven!! The site has good sheltered spots for tents.
Weather: very warm and sunny
Total km: 154
Today, Wednesday, we plan to have a slow day.......
Today, Wednesday, we plan to have a slow day.......
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