Friday, 07.02., Punakeiki and surrounding area

Today is our Jule's birthday and we already sent a serenade yesterday! A look into 'our' garden: beautiful weather and 20 degrees - perfect for our activities today.

Today we want to visit the Pancakes first. A roaring and surging welcome us again. And we discover a Pancake heart that we send to Jule (and Heike) for their birthday. The wind and the waves give their all. We are lucky that it is also high tide right now. This makes the spectacle even more impressive and the 'Blowholes' spray. When the wave breaks in a 'basin', the foam sprays out through a hole above. Fascinating!

Can you see the rainbow?! It's standing!!! And the pancakes are truly impressive.

Later on, we will of course also enjoy the 'real' pancakes, which the rock formations are named after.

Strengthened, we go on our rainforest hike. At first, we think the suspension bridge is closed because workers are working on it. But then we read on a sign that we can pass the bridge in the company of a worker. So nice!

And then we really step into the jungle. We are amazed by the perfectly prepared hiking trail that winds through the jungle. And we are amazed again by the huge ferns and whole forests of them, by the plants that climb up the trees and again and again by trees that grow out of rotten dead trees over and over again. Arriving at the swing bridge, there are Eva's delicious sandwiches and a NZ apple again. Strengthened, we then make our way back.

Arriving at the retreat, we grab 2 cold beers and hike to a bench above the bay - very relaxed, say a few people passing by! On the way, we see a New Zealand pigeon: fat, large with colored plumage. Reinhard thinks they are great!

Phew, we took so many photos that the selection was really difficult.