Drive to Punakaiki

Today we drove across the Southern Alps through Lewis Pass, and the Buller Gorge, and saw some great scenery. Or rather, I did, because Dave was kept busy looking at the road. There were a lot of nice wildflowers along the road too, as well as rivers down below us, so it was a very scenic drive. It had the usual compliment of one way bridges.

We stopped once for a flat white, and once for lunch. After lunch our drive was basically down the coast to Punakaiki. Punakaiki is known for its rock features, not its town. We are staying in the Punakaiki Resort, right on the beach (view below from our balcony). I had booked an Eco-Suite, but when we got here, the standard rooms were better located. So we are staying in a standard room on the beach (although paying a higher price as if we were tucked back into the mountain in an Eco-Suite). I think the location is worth the higher price, not the solar panels.

We went to see the Pancake Rocks, the reason Punakaiki is famous. They are layered sandstone formations, likened to a stack of pancakes. There are also blowholes, but although we went at high tide (the best time for them) we never saw them blow - maybe the surf was from the wrong direction today. The rocks were beautiful and awesome anyway, without the blowholes. And the walk around the top of the headland, with a fresh breeze and bright sunshine, was lovely. Here are a couple views up and down the coast.

In the bottom one, our hotel is tucked back into that bay. Now it's time to dine so the blog entry gets posted.