Down the west coast

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A long bus ride from Nelson to Greymouth might have been rather tedious had our journey not been broken for us with frequent stops at interesting spots along the rugged, windy west coast of the South Island.

Stops at a seal colony and then at the 'Pancake Rocks' (American-style, not British pancakes as we realised when we saw them) were great opportunities to stretch our legs and get that wonderful windswept feeling to remind us we were heading south ad winter was approaching!  The rugged coastline is not unlike the west coast of the British Isles and the waves were rolling in and crashing on the rocks.  The pancake rocks were one of those great formations that limestone produces when combined with the elements - looking like stacks of (American-style!) pancakes (sort of....not entirely convinced but the rubbish name shouldn't detract from the impressive site of the arches, stacks and stumps created by the waves.

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Late in the afternoon we arrived in Greymouth. Not much to report from there - it was just a stopover en route to decidedly more exciting places!!! (although I did end up going on the Monteith's brewery tour!)