Pancake Rocks

The pancake rocks are named so because they look like stacks of pancakes.

Anyone hungry?

Here... these will explain the phenomenon so I don't have to :P 

This was a very small area but much worth the stop on the road trip down the coastline 

As we went further down the coast, we were constantly amazed by the beauty of this place. It's like a 200 mile long stretch of Fern Canyon (the place they shot the T-Rex chase scene in Jurassic Park) meets Hawaiian coastline.

Even on a cloudy day it's beautiful!

 Marie finds us a spot to park the van for the night...

we crossed our fingers we wouldn't get a ticket but sleeping right by the water was worth the risk.

Cheers

Even in NZ, the west coast is the best coast! 

Cape Foulwind and an unexpected friend

After a long day of driving and the river stop in Buller Gorge, we finally made it to the west coast of the Southern Island, to Westport and Cape Foulwind. What a payoff we had there. This night was the most stunning 360 experience of the trip for me. Atop Cape Foulwind (named appropriately as you  might imagine), there was a breathtaking sunset on one side, and sweeping mountains topped with a rainbow on the other. Incredible!

My poor little camera was no match for the stunning beauty of nature. 

 Check out this character.

I have no idea what type of bird this is.

He just sauntered right up to us and started curiously watching.

Eventually he taste tested Sabrina's foot... eh no good.

 I think he just wanted to hang out.

I don't think he has wings.

Buller Gorge

On the day we drove the long stretch from Abel Tasman to the West Coast of Southern New Zealand, we kept being teased by beautiful glimpses of the river in the gorge below. I just KNEW there was a way to get down there... my Northern California experience taught me that sometimes you just have to trust your gut and follow a road that you hope will take you where you want to go. Sometimes you end up where you want, sometimes it takes 2 or 3 shots... but eventually you get to the river :p... Nor-Cal lesson #249: Persistence pays off, people!

 Whew! The water was cold :)

 Alright everyone... One... Two............ ROELINDA?!?!

 I walked on water for a split second :)

 It was worth all the work getting here!

I made us a to-go tuna salad for lunch by the water, the fish got lucky with leftovers.

Warm sun and cold water makes me happy!

Abel Tasman

  

 Our first big destination on the South Island was the Abel Tasman National Park,

a gorgeous coastal trail on the North West side of the South Island.

  

Marie and Roelinda charged the walk to Anchorage,

Sabrina and I were getting over being sick so we took our time,

took pictures, and explored all of the bays up to Stillwell.

 

 This shot is just along the beginning of the coastal trail.

The silver fern on the left is the national plant of New Zealand.

There are so many types of old ferns here that it feels prehistoric at times.

 

Porters Beach

We explored a few bays, ate lunch with the gulls at Apple Tree Bay,

and lounged in the sun in our bikinis. 

 

 Sabrina is way better at handstand photos than me!

We started feeling adventurous and decided to explore the coastline because it was super low tide. We were able to boulder around so many more areas than would be accessible otherwise. Finally we came to this large rock with no safe way to climb over.

 

 But the view from this large rock (above) revealed a tantalizingly inaccessible beach with no trail outlet. Being so excited to find one scenic place in NZ not absolutley trampled by tourists was too much to resist, so we improvised.

  

We bushwhacked!

We made a 40 minute boulder and climb to get to this beach, with no clear promise of success or escape route, and arriving there felt so rewarding!

  

 It looked as though people hadn't been here for a long time. There were animal tracks and shells strewn everywhere. It's so rare to find a beautiful place that's not completely touristed out. It felt really special to be a part of one.  

Cool rock formations. What do you see??

I see skulls, Jesse sees eagles.

Fortunately we were able to boulder beyond this cove to get to Stillwell Bay and trail access again so we didn't have to bushwhack all the way back!

 

 After lounging around and exploring Stillwell Bay, we took a leisurely walk back up the trail we had skipped around.

 Mushroom!

Eating this results in one of two things:

1: you hallucinate like crazy! or 2: you die.

I didn't try it.

More pretty shots of the walk back:

 

 

 There was a really cool sculpture garden at the end of the trail.

 

  

  

  

Ha Sheep! These are everywhere in NZ