South Island Part 2 - The Wild West Coast
Trip Start
Feb 16, 2010
1
11
17
Trip End
Jul 30, 2010
Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
Thursday, May 6, 2010
After testing the grey matter we headed to Queenstown where we would spend the next 3 days. We were taken to the tourist centre so we could book the different ways that we would terrify ourselves. I opted for paragliding and a Canyon Swing.
First up was a Canyon Swing. Suprisingly enough this is a giant swing over a canyon just with a 60m freefall and speeds of 150kph thrown in for free. At the top I had to select my style of jump - the menu ranges from a normal jump - to one with a bin over your head - to one where the jumpmaster electrocutes you as you begin the freefall. For my first jump I elected for a conventional forwards running jump. Before you jump the jumpmasters try and scare you as much as they possibly can (we watched the hilarious video of those most terrified over the years in the bus home). I enjoyed it so much that I did a second time - this time backwards on a chair (with a summersault).... Great fun!! The rush from this activity lasted several hours so I was bouncing around town in the evening. The locals were out sandbagging shop doors and emptying shop floors as the lake was 20cm away from flooding thanks to all the rain.
The next morning I awoke to a fantastic view of the snow dusted Remarkables. I had no thrillseeking planned so I cycled up into the mountains in the sunshine. I treated to myself a Fergburger - these delicious gourmet burgers are a must have in Queenstown.. That evening we went out to a Gourmet pizza restaurant - options included unusual pizza such as a roast dinner pizza.
Paragliding was penned in for this morning. Thankfully the weather allowed us to go ahead for the first time in a week. I jumped off Coronet's Peak and enjoyed great views of the surrounding area. That afternoon we headed off towards the West Coast (one of the wettest places on Earth...). We had a BBQ on an open fire that evening by Lake Wanaka that evening before we retired to the extremely cold tents.
The following day was another blue sky day. I took up the option to cycle the entire 111km over Haast Pass to the campsite on the West Coast. The views were exceptional. I made a few stops along the way at some waterfalls before arriving at camp at shortly after 4pm. Tonight was the final day of the regular football season with Blackpool on the brink of the play offs. I had been warned that there was no signal at the campsite and that internet was expensive dial up and shut after midnight so I was prepared for a nervous night. Thankfully the slow and not too expensive internet was open so I was up until 2am following the 2 important games.... Even though Blackpool only drew Swansea thankfully only drew as well so I was a happy man! In the morning we drove to Fox Glacier however the heavy rain prevented us from going up to it.
We continued our drive up the West Coast towards Greymouth, stopping off at a Bushmen centre where there were deer, possums and an email strangely enough. We watched an email about deer culling and looked at various amusing photos around the place. The afternoon was spent doing a bush walk further up the coast.
Next stop was Punakaiki where the famous dolomite pancake rocks are. They are on a section of spectacular coastline. I cycled along the coast and then hiked (or rather tramped as the kiwis say) through the bush to a cave before returning to the Pancake rocks in time for high tide. The SW swell were the perfect conditions as the large waves break on the rocks sending spray up to 50 feet in the air as well as spraying up through blow holes.
Abel Tasman National Park was our next stop. I cycled and did a short walk around the area before we visited another delicious gourmet Burger bar to put some weight back on.. We spent the last night of the tour talking around a campfire.
I was dropped off in Nelson where I would get the shuttle to Picton in order to get the ferry to Wellington. I had 5 hours to kill so I went to the cinema to watch a Kiwi film called Boy. It was interesting and certainly very different to the Hollywood blockbusters that I normally watch. The ferry journey was taken up with watching a couple of Super 14 rugby games before I checked into my hostel. Tonight was the first leg of the playoffs so I stayed up until 2am again to watch (the internet was fast enough this time) Blackpool beat Notts Forest 2-1 and therefore ensure that Tuesday would be very nervewracking!!
