Todays run was 182 Kms start to finish. We woke to a heavy dew on the grass, bright blue skies and a warmish gentle breeze. The sound of the surf on the beach was somehow calming. The inside of the van was a little chilly as overnight temperatures had dropped to around 5C. A portable electric heater supplied in the van equipment quickly took the chill off the air and the first order of the day was to get the kettle on for a brew. The only plan we had today was to visit the Punakaiki pancake rocks, a run down the Great Coastal Road to Greymouth and a visit to the glow worm dell just before Hokitika.
First stop of the day was to Cape Foulwind. The present name was bestowed upon this promontory by English explorer James Cook in 1770 after his ship Endeavour was blown quite a distance offshore from this point. It was only 7kms from our camp site so, being a mariner, was a must do and see. The concrete lighthouse replaces a woodend structure that lay just to the right of this photo on a stone plinth. The plinth and the long bolts that held the original wooden structure are still visible to this day.
This is the original lighthouse made of wood. I hope you can read the information boards.
It was a journey of around an hour at the slow pace we were driving down the Great Coast road. This is Highway 6 that runs down the west coast of the upper south island of New Zealand. The section from Westport to Greymouth is a motorcyclists heaven. It is often listed as one of the great motorcycle rides of the world and with good reason. Scenic, twisty and with just enough sections to open the throttle for a blast. In a camper van however it was more of a chance to slow down and suffer from scenic overload. Just when you think you have seen the most stunning vista, you round the next bend and there is another. We stopped at Punakaiki in the Paparoa National park to look at the amazing and unusual rock formations. This is another one to add to your bucket list and one to cross of my wife Debbie’s.
Looking back at a section of the Great Coastal Road, State Highway 6.
A section of the pancake rocks at Punakaiki pronounced Poonakyekee in the Paparoa National park. State highway 6.
The aptly named pancake rocks at Punakaiki.
We stopped in the town of Greymouth for supplies before heading south to the town of Hokitika. The glow worm dell at Hokitika was a bit of a damp squib. I had seen the signs for it on passing on my motorcycle many times. But never stopped. This time in the campervan we did. Ummm? Just kept going. Move along. Nothing to see here. After a refuel stop we motored on down the highway to our campsite at Ross. This is a very small town. The camp lies on Ross beach and here Debbie and I lit a beach camp fire. We partook of a rather nice Shiraz before retiring. I am now used to driving the van and its size no longer makes me nervous. Our what3words location for the night is: evolves.trill.glovebox Download the app at what3words.com and follow us on our journey. Travel tomorrow will be a shorter day in the saddle. It is my birthday and we shall travel a couple of hours south to Fox Glacier township.
Woodend Wanderer 