Thursday, 06.02., Trip to the wild West Coast to Punakaiki

From Kaikoura we drive through the mountains. It is a very diverse and wild landscape with deep valleys, high mountains, and everything is quite dry. Only where it is irrigated, green grass grows. We drive the State Highway 7 over the Lewis Pass, the clouds hang lower and it starts raining. The landscape changes. It becomes greener and greener. We arrive in Greymouth on the West Coast around 3:00 pm and drive from there north along the 'Great Coast Road'. Offshore rocks, rugged cliffs, huge waves on one side. Dense rainforest on the other side. Our cottage is located between Irimahuwheri Bay in the north and the mouth of the Pororari River - also in the rainforest, and the path to the beach leads us through there. On the way we meet a quite tame Weka and then come to the beach below the Te Nikau Retreats - a beautiful little bay. Great, but swimming prohibited. I wouldn't dare to go in there with those waves!!! Amazing rock formations, the roar of the ocean.

And for the grand finale, I'll try on a new headgear!