34th-36th day - Wild West Coast

On Monday, we leave the idyllic Lake Rotoiti shortly after sunrise and have breakfast directly by the lake before heading towards Westport. The route leads through a winding canal valley along a river, including the Maruia Falls, past high mountains, until finally after 1 1/2 hours we can once again breathe the sea air. On this hot day, we decide to cool off at the beach, where we have to provide shade for ourselves - no problem with an architect and a cheap laborer in the team!

Cooled down by the rather fresh Tasman Sea, we head to Cape Foulwind, not far from Westport, where a seal colony has settled. Full of anticipation for the 'cute' animals, we go in search. However, our mood changes from one moment to the next when we witness a territorial fight between two adult male seals, in which one nearly loses its life. With bated breath and sweat on our foreheads, we return to the 'Wish' and have to recover from what we've seen.

The search for a campsite leads us to the north of the West Coast, where not many tourists go. So we have to share the kilometer-long sandy beach with just a few dogs and countless seagulls - somehow a frightening feeling to lie alone on your beach towel. How small one is in this desert-like environment.

To fully absorb this unique moment, an evening run on the beach under the sea level at sunset is on the program (hmm...how is that possible?) - wonderful!

Bitten by sandflies and mosquitoes, we drive south where we visit another highlight, the Pancake Rocks.

Inspired by this natural spectacle, we prepare an adequate dinner ;)

On Wednesday morning, we plan the next few days of our trip and drive to Hokitika Gorge, a gorge with blue water like we've never seen before!

To round off this relaxing day, we let the sun shine on our bellies at Hokitika Beach with a view of the nearby glaciers. Once again, this shows us the diversity of New Zealand.

In the evening, we explore the bush and the area around our campsite on foot, before we set off to see the glowworms as darkness falls.

We wish you a merry St. Nicholas Day and that the Krampus doesn't take you away ;)

Greetings to the mulled wine stand :)