We had a glorious short walk through some gorgeous bush to an amazing beach on the Truman Track. It is a 30 minute return walk, but, if like us you spend some time wandering the beach, maybe a little longer!

Punakaiki – We were up at the crack of dawn for our visit to Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks) as the best time to see them is when it is high tide and preferably when there is a big sea swell. You are led on a very neat path along a loop walk that makes sure you get as many opportunities as possible to see and hear the sea smashing against the rocks. The ‘Pancake’ effect is caused by millions of years of limestone and papa rock layering. This walk is a real assault on your senses. Sight, sound, smell. Huge booms as the waves break against the rocks, sea spray exhaling from the ‘Chimney Pot’. It was so amazing. There was one place where as we walked past, there was this really loud intake of breath type sound and then another like an exhale – but no water in sight. Didn’t see the sign that said – BEWARE SUDDEN LOUD NOISE. Had a lovely coffee with some cheeky company at the visitors centre after.

Pororari River Track – what a lovely short walk (you can walk as far as you like really) through some nikau and fern bush to the view point.

Our campsite was a real treat – there was a food cart – Pete’s Pattie Palace – which sold Whitebait Fritters. Don was in heaven. I must say that they were REALLY good!

Greymouth – we had a wander around the town and out to the breakwater before freedom camping for the night.

Hokitika – We both love this place. And what fun we had here on this trip. We had three trips to the beach at low tide to fossick around for the elusive pounamu stone. Alas, no luck but we did find some really lovely pieces of Serpentine rock which according to the lady in the Jade shop, would be pounamu in about another few hundred thousand years! We had a walk up to the Hokitika Gorge. What big changes there have been, mostly caused by storms but the walk we remember is no longer the same. Still, we walked through the bush to the viewing point and then, after being blown away by the colour of the water, clambered over the rocks like billy goats. The water is this shade of blue due to the very fine glacial rock powder which is held in suspension in the water. Could spend hours looking at the river.

On the way back from the Gorge, we stopped at Kowhitirangi, site of New Zealand’s first mass murder, 7 people killed – most of them policemen. Very sombre place. Our campsite for the night was at Lake Kaniere. Stunning.