New Zealand circuit - Greymouth - The Charles Court Motel -The Speight's Ale House - Day 10 - The 7th of March 2019 (late evening)

 

 

We reached Greymouth by late evening and soon after having dropped our luggage in the Charles Court Motel, whose suite was huge, as well as the number of facilities therewith associated, headed to the town so as to eat another huge and interesting place called Speight's Ale House, where a typical New Zelander dinner had been ordered. 

 

 

 

Dinner was copious and particularly tasty, from the huge piece of lamb to the  delicious Pavlova meringue cream fruit dessert.

By the time we reached our accommodation it was raining heavily but tiredness and satisfaction made me go to sleep almost immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand circuit - On the way to Paparoa National Park - The Pancake Rocks and blowholes walk - Day 10 - The 7th of March 2019 (late afternoon)

On the way to Paparoa National Park we briefly stopped at a beach with some rather unique rock formations, which in a way were preparatory to what we were to see next. The overall scenery was fairly dramatic with the sky getting darker and the cold sea breeze making its presence known. The huge isolated rock formations standing on the sand as if unexpectedly fallen from the sky made us feel fragile and miniscule as we moved along the beach. A series of Nikau palm trees established a barrier between the road and the beach, which further reinforced the atmosphere of isolation of the site. Someone attempted to take some photos from behind a group of rock formations placed together but soon found there were patches of quicksand which forced him to move backwards.

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we reached the Pancake Rocks area and initiated the Dolomite Point walk it was raining and the wind was beginning to blow quite strongly. Taking pictures of the amazing scenery that surrounded us was quite difficult but we still managed to. I was more impressed by the layered formations of the Rock Pancakes than with the caverns that become blowholes when the waves surge, possibly because of their sinister look. 

 

New Zealand circuit - Murchison - Kilkeny lookout - Cape Fowlwind walkway - Day 10 - The 7th of March 2019 (morning and early afternoon)

We set off fairly early in the morning so as to head towards the West coast and the National Paparoa Park and in the way stopped at a very peculiar city called Murchison. It was like stepping back in time as we strolled along its main street and walked into its multi selling-type of shop, which strongly reminded me of the old city shops of my childhood and where I found a few interesting objects to buy.

As we drove on we stopped at a very beautiful scenery site, called Kilkeny Lookout to observe the Buller river and gorge. I found it to be very quiet and beautiful to look at.

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped for a picnic type of lunch at an equally nice site in the proximity of the Cape Fowlwind, where the coast scenery was stunning. At a distance we could see a restored house turned into a  rent accommodation which looked to be an interesting place to stay at. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were lucky the sun started shining as we started our Cape Fowlwind walkway along the coast to see the fur seal breeding colony, because until then the weather had been unsettled and it was as if it could rain at any time. The one hour and an half walk allowed us to take photos of spectacualr panoramic views along the coastline. The three month baby seals seemed to be having a great time in the enclosed swimming pool in the middle of the rocks unaware of the number of visitors watching them.