We left the Rainforest Retreat in Franz Joseph after a complimentary breakfast. Craig proved himself a hero once more keeping us safe while driving some curvy roads with hairpin turns while hugging the coastline. Just when you think we've seen all the best of the beautiful New Zealand scenery, we were afforded more amazing Tasman Sea views along it's rugged shoreline to Punakaiki. We've run out of adjectives to describe the spectacular views. Hokitka was a stop along the way. We could see Mt Cook in the distance from the wide, wild beach. We stopped for lunch @ Seven Penny Cafe in Greymouth. Seven Penny was named after a 4 month boycott of the restaurants and taverns trying to raise the price of beer from Six to Seven Pennies in 1947. It led to one of the most effective consumer boycotts ever seen in NZ.
We checked into the Ocean View Hotel in Punakaiki. We all had separate rooms with exceptional views. J&J didn't have a balcony but we had a connecting door that opens between our rooms. Our view was of an expansive sand & rock beach right out our door.
The Hotel was located on the border of the Paparoa National Park. We walked to the nearby Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The awesome power of the waves and water coming up through the blowholes was so cool & very difficult to capture on film. The boulders were massive and I thought more than pancakes they looked like Pillsbury flaky rolls.
We found a cavern that was a bit intimidating and Craig was the only one brave enough to venture in farther than the entry. He is our spelunker.
Our Tipple time was spent on our balconies soaking in the water view. Our dinner was onsite and it wasn't bad. Our friendly waiter was also the desk clerk, busboy and bartender.
After dinner, C&C walked back to the Pancake Rocks to see the effects of the 15-20 foot low tide which exposed more interesting rocks & boulders. The rest of us walked the beach and we all witnessed an incredible sunset over the Tasman Sea.
We liked their Coffee Ambulance:
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