My New Zealand Jobs

Punakaiki

While others had overnight stops in Greymouth or Westport, I opted for Punakaiki, a small town on the edge of the Tasman Sea and Paparoa National Park. Stayed at Te Nikau Retreat, which is a hostel of sorts. In reality, it’s a collection of fully furnished cabins with fireplaces and no TVs. Only two other people stayed in mine the first night, and it was wonderfully relaxing. I rested the first day. The second day I walked the Tasman Track, the Pororari River Track, and descended into the Punakaiki Cavern. The Tasman Track is a 15 minute walk through bush to a beach on the Tasman Sea. The sea there is too rough to swim in, but it is very, very cool to watch with the powerful waves and white foam stretching onto the beach. The beach itself had this stony sand, a few coves, and some scuplted cliffs. The hazy sky made it so pictures wouldn’t come out well, but it was great to sit and watch. Punakaiki is most famous the it’s Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes. I got some good pictures of the layered pancaked rocks. The blowholes send water up through the rock when the tide is high and the sea is rough, and fortunately is was when I got there. I thought about going to Hokitika, the main greenstone working town in New Zealand, and taking a greenstone carving course. After stopping there for a tourist break, I was very glad I passed. It’s just one of those cities you don’t want to be in very long.