Pancake Rocks and Blow Holes

Trip Start Feb 13, 2005
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Trip End Apr 27, 2005


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Stopped off on our way to Franz Josef at Punakaiki to explore the 'pancake rocks' and blow holes that it is famous for. Ended up staying for two nights as our accommodation was fantastic - Te Nikau Retreat - a log cabin set right in the middle of a rainforest, 100m from the sea! With a balcony looking into the trees and freshly baked bread and muffins it was hard to tear ourselves away! Whiled away many a happy hour combing the beaches for treasure, climbing on the rocks and practising our beach art (see photo!!). Pancake rocks were really impressive, weird formations rising up high above the sea and nobody really knows why or how they have formed. We were there at high tide and it was great watching the waves crash against the rocks and spurt up through the blow holes.

Forget to mention our stop off for our daily adrenalin rush (we are junkies now!!) at Buller Gorge where there is a 110m swingbridge, the longest in New Zealand, running high above the Buller River. We returned to the other side of the river by a 160m zipwire which you dangle from in a harness with your legs hanging in mid air. They give you a push and you fly through the air with the river gushing below you hoping that the wire doesn't snap under the pressure of our expanding waistlines!!!

So now we are in Franz Josef waiting to go glacier hiking with our crampons and ice axes tomorrow - more soon (all being well!!!!) .....
Punakaiki hotels Slideshow

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