day two; part 2 Punakaiki and Hokitika

After a great first stop, we headed west toward the coast. The drive through the upper and lower Buller Gorge was stunning—the Buller River’s teal water is unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s every bit as beautiful as the North Island.

Our second stop, Punakaiki, Pancake rocks.  Wow amazing.  After walking along a loop track you are there.  

Amongst the cliffs, narrow vertical air shafts created by the rain met with horizontal tunnels created by the pounding ocean. Today, just after high tide, the ocean swells rush headlong through ever-narrowing tunnels and force large amounts of water and compressed air to race upward through the vertical shafts. The result is a hissing, heaving, thumping countryside that rhythmically emits geyser-like plumes of salt water. In a strong westerly swell, this creation of nature is a very impressive sight.

After an ice cream, we hit the road towards Hokitika, have a vino, some fish and chips and rest.