Sunday 4th April - Punakaiki Rocks

 Sunday 4th April - Punakaiki Rocks

Today when we set off we were expecting cloud in the morning, then rain in the afternoon. Instead it has been mild allday with sunny spells all day

We left Hokitika at about 10:30am and headed off to SH 6 to Westport.

We passed through Greymouth, which looked to be a fairly prosperous extensive town – all the buildings and houses looked tidy and well maintained.

At about lunchtime we got to Punakaiki Rocks which had changed remarkably since the last time I was there in 1966 with Jon de Wyn – a DOC Visitor Centre and a Café with “Elton John” in charge.

The first thing we saw when we got out of the car was an opportunist Weka:-


When the Weka realised that we weren’t a food source it wandered off.

We had a coffee and scone first at the cafe:-


In the café we met Linda Mills, Doug Mills wife and her friend.

We walked across the road to the entrance to the Punakaiki Rocks:-


It was nice to see, and surprising, to see all the Nikau Palms on the walk:-


I had thought that it would be too Westerly and cold to support them – but no! They looked really happy.


We then walked round the track, which was really safe and informative, and saw all the fascinating formtions:-


… and…


There was lots more to see, this is just a taste!



























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