After a great hotel breakfast at the Kimi Ora Eco Resort we got in the car in sunny weather and drove south from Kaiteriteri.
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Our route from Kaiteriteri to Punakaiki
Our destination today was Punakaiki on New Zealand’s west coast, where we had booked our next accommodation. The road meandered through New Zealand’s green mountains. On Highway 6 you pass the “Buller Gorge Swing Bridge”, which at 110 meters is the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand.
The sea lion colony at Cape Foulwind
On our way along the State Highway we passed Cape Foulwind near the town of Westport, which is home to a sea lion breeding colony. From the parking lot there was a short way to the viewing platforms above the colony. Since the sea lion females give birth to their cubs at the end of November, we could see especially many young in the colony. It was a lively hustle and bustle – many sea lions swam in the water, some played or ruped with others and others just slept quite relaxed on the rocks. We looked at it for quite a while and then drove on.
The Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park
In the afternoon we arrived in Punakaiki, which is located at Paparoa National Park. The highlight in the park are the “Pancake Rocks” rocks, which look like layered egg cakes on top of each other and have therefore also got the name. From different platforms you have a great view of the rocks and the roaring sea. The water of the surf breaks at the countless rocky peaks, in caves and pushes back flowing water together with air through narrow holes in the rock, which is visible above the rocks as sparkling “blowholes”.
The next morning we went to the Pancake Rocks early in the morning to take some pictures in the early morning light. Since the sun was still hiding behind a large mountain at that time, the rocks were unfortunately partly in the shade.
A video of Pancake Rocks
Here is a short video of the Pancake Rocks and the Blowhole.
Our hotel in Punakaiki
At dusk we went to our nearby and German-run te hui house in Punakaiki.
The double-storey 5-room house is part of Punakaiki Beach Hostel and is just across the street. A private car park is right in front of the house. You check in at Punakaiki Beach Hostel and then get your key for Te Hui House. Our twin room was very simple with two separate wooden beds, but had a private bathroom with shower. Bed linen, a wool blanket and towels were provided; There is no heating in the room. There is a very large shared kitchen (equipped with everything you need for cooking) as well as large adjoining living/dining room (with TV, heating and balcony). We have received free Wi-Fi internet access – it worked very well. At the reception at the Beach Hostel you can buy a few groceries, including freshly baked bread and cakes. The owners are German and extremely nice and accommodating. We can only recommend the Te Hui House.
Alle Reiseberichte aus Neuseeland
11 Tage lang haben wir Neuseeland von Norden nach Süden mit dem Mietwagen auf eigene Faust erkundet. Angefangen hat unsere Reise auf der Nordinsel in der Stadt Auckland, wir haben die gewaltigen Kräfte unter der Erde in Wai-O-Tapu und Orakei Korako erlebt, wir haben die Hauptstadt Wellington erkundet, sind über die Neuseeländischen Alpen gefahren, haben eine Gletscherwanderung auf dem Fox Gletscher gemacht, bevor wir zum Abschluss eine Fahrt durch das UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe Milford Sound erlebt haben. Neuseeland ist ein wirklich schönes Land, dass uns unglaublich gut gefallen hat.
» Nordinsel: Auckland – Ein Spaziergang durch die Innenstadt» Nordinsel: Waitomo - Eine Tour durch die Glühwürmchenhöhle
» Nordinsel: Die Stadt Rotorua & die Geothermalregion Wai-O-Tapu
» Nordinsel: Die Geothermalregion Orakei Korako
» Nordinsel: Das Tongariro Alpine Crossing & die Stadt Wellington
» Nordinsel / Südinsel: Picton - Mit der Fähre von der Nordinsel auf die Südinsel
» Südinsel: Der Abel Tasman Nationalpark - Bootstour & Wanderung
» Südinsel: Die Pancake Rocks & die Seelöwen am Cape Foulwind
» Südinsel: Der Franz-Josef-Gletscher im Westland-Nationalpark
» Südinsel: Der Fox-Gletscher - Mit dem Helikopter zur Eiswanderung
» Südinsel: Neuseeländische Alpen - Franz-Josef bis Milford Sound
» Südinsel: Milford Sound - Eine Bootsfahrt durch den Fjord
» Südinsel: Die Road to Milford Sound & die Stadt Queenstown