From Greymouth we drove north along the coast . It certainly gave California Highway 1 a go for it’s money. Very picturesque. The first view is of the Motukiekie Rocks….and we only knew their name from the map; no other details but well worth several stops and many photos.
From there we went to see the Pancake Rocks and Blowhole. It didn’t blow very much but the rock formation was very interesting.
Further along the coast we walked through the rainforest on the Truman Track to see this rock formation - made up for missing the Wave Rock in Western Australia. All the beach was made up of tiny perfectly spherical pebbles and was a beach combers delight!
The furthest point we drove to was Fox River. Another pretty site where the water runs down the mountains along the river bed and then bursts into the sea. All a bit slow in the summer, but you can just imagine how it could rage in the winter.
The next day we took the route from the West Coast to the East Coast along a road known as Arthurs Pass which is a road through the Southern Alps. Up to the village of the same name we were not sure why it would take so long and need so many photo stops. Pretty but not that amazing. So we stopped in the village to stretch legs and collect a picnic lunch and off we went again. The 2nd half was a completely different kettle of fish. Magnificent grey mountains that were perfect for filming Lord of the Rings. On this part we did have to keep stopping so I could take photos.
At the end of the pass we went through 2 towns of note. The first one was Springfield and if you are a Simpsons fan the photo says it all!!
We also stopped at a lovely “normal people” town called Rangiora. We wanted to see the unusual Gothic church built in the 1860s and the vicar was kind enough to open it up herself and show us around. I was also taken with the former Town Hall built in 1925 and now a cinema / theatre / youth centre. Very vivid in purple. (That’s how my hair should be!!)
