Sunny days on the west coast

On the second sunny day, we went to Westport where we had booked a surf lesson. On the way there, we passed the Pancake Rocks. These are known for the rocks there resembling stacked pancakes. Of course, we couldn't resist enjoying a pancake there. ;)

Arriving in Westport, we had a delicious German Berliner at Cafe Europe, which is owned by a German woman who offers typical German treats there.

Although we planned to go to bed early that evening to be well-rested for the surf lesson at 10 am, we didn't end up going to bed until very late. Because while bargain hunting at the supermarket, we met a couple from NRW whom we, after unexpectedly meeting again at the campsite, spent a cozy evening playing several games of billiards with. So, in the morning, we reluctantly got out of bed, but our excitement for surfing quickly overshadowed the tiredness.

When we arrived at the meeting point, we were greeted by Marc, a sun-kissed Maori. Despite his young age, he looked at least 10 years older due to the wrinkles caused by the sun.
With his laid-back demeanor, he briefly explained the surfboard, things we should pay attention to, and how to actually surf, following the motto: lie down, paddle, stand up - surf! To practice, we also did a dry run.
But then it was time to hit the water and we have to admit, it's incredibly fun! Surprisingly, we managed to stand on the board relatively quickly (although not always). We didn't want to stop, but Marc occasionally called us and the other participants out of the water to take a break. Because you wouldn't believe how much strength it takes to constantly fight against the waves.
After 3 hours, we had to return the boards, but at the beginning, we probably wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway. In any case, we are already looking forward to Bali and/or the next surfing opportunity.

On the same day, we continued on to Karamea, where we wanted to visit the Oparara Arch and Moria Gate Arch the following day.
A long dirt road and a short walk led us to the two impressive caves, where the water was strangely colored orange/red.

Afterwards, we headed to our long-awaited destination, Abel Tasman National Park. There, we will do a three-day kayak-hiking tour to see as much of it as possible.