Punakaiki Paradise

Pancake rocks layered formations on the coast. Photos just don’t do it justice. A huge blow hole dropped way down though the brownish area in the foreground, but we were there at low tide.
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We drove down the coast (only 45mins) to Punakaiki – WOW. The scenery here just keeps blowing me away. We checked into our hotel, and headed out for some short hikes and drives along the coast. First we hit the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, an amazing Disneyland-like landscape of layered rocks and lush jungle vegetation in headland into the surf. Blow holes and unbelievable paths though the rock formations were stunning. Huge primeval stone cliffs tier down to the coast. Then we headed out to the Truman Track, a phenomenal trail though the jungle to coastal caves and beaches. Derek told us to keep going north along the beaches and rocks, and we just kept seeing more and more incredible caves and rock formations, like I have never seen before, and then there would be more cool stuff around the next ridge. Weird cave like circular tide pools up on a ledge. There are really no words to describe this sublime coastline, incredible nature carved rocks like supernatural sculptures, a waterfall dropping into the beach, rich lush jungle, fern trees, palms, and all sorts of unusual plants. Huge vegetation choked cliffs and canyons going back into the mysterious mountains. So lush like Hawaii, yet like some other planet here – it reminded me of visions reading Edgar Rice Burrows Mars books as a youth, I John Carter. This area was used for the screen adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lost World book. Strange creatures and bird calls abound, I expected a dinosaur to appear around any corner. Galu! Wow wow WOW, I was filled with joy from the magnificent unspoiled beauty, lost for words, it was beautifukin!

Looking though one of the caves ripped into the rock along the beach after the Truman Track.
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Taking tons of digital video on this trip. At this rate going to need a separate bag just to carry the video tapes back home, and another vacation to watch them all.

Beauty Beyond Words, a Lush and Rocky Landscape

We took a drive up a dirt road though one of the giant white/grey limestone and marble canyons, like so many places, even in this heavily touristed area, only saw one bicycle and one car the whole time.

The only down side were tiny black biting bugs that appeared around sunset. Cheryl tasted sweeter and had the worst time with the insects, compared to me being covered in chimp-like hair, wearing shoes rather than sandals, long pants, as well as rather senseless.

Looking back towards land on part of the varied Truman Track. It’s probably hard to tell what this is in the photo, the scale and layers, strange overhanging rock protrusions and caves. A thin waterfall shot out from the cliff past the curve of the center overhang, a starfish in the foreground.
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Finally wrapped up trying to explore a cavern without a flashlight (left it in the hotel!), and heading to a cool pub (Montieth's named after the beer) for a brew, fish and chips, and watched a fantastic Rugby game – Auckland vs Wellington. Fire works were shot off at the beach. The bar tender said he thought I was Bill Gates, not sure if due to Cheryl and I splitting an order of fish and chips and only having one beer, or my computer dork persona.