KAIKOURA AT LAST

After a tortuous road diversion due to land slips and road closures we finally reached the small coastal village of Kaikoura. Our aim - to go on a whale watching cruise. 
The weather overnight had been quite stormy and they had cancelled the first two sailings at lunch time, forecast said winds and sea swell were easing during the afternoon so we booked places on 4pm one but no payment needed until you actually go.
We got a lovely campsite at Peketa Bay just outside town and had lunch in the sun but suddenly the wind changed direction and the sea churned up again. 
All sailings that day were cancelled, bit sad but we have been so lucky over the years and seen many whales so off we went on a walk along the cliff top of the peninsula.
Gale force winds made it an exhilarating time with stunning views and sunshine.

Back to town for a fabulous fish and chip meal at the Whaler where the barman was from York! 

OUR OWN BEACH AT PEKETA BAY HOLIDAY PARK

WEIRD ROCKS

OUR LITTLE CAMPER AMONGST THE BIG BOYS

SEAL ISLAND

WHALERS BAY

ROY IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO HUMPS

SLEEPY FUR SEAL

SHAGS

SO CUTE BUT THEY BITE!

HERON

WHALER MEAL

CUTE SIGNS FOR THE TOILETS

GOODBYE SANDFLIES - HELLO ARTHURS PASS AND ACROSS TO THE EAST AGAIN

Have I told you about the infamous sandflies that inhabit the west coast and the females bite like mad? Well we seemed to miss them at Doubtful and Milford Sound but at Haast they hit! I've had about 30 odd bites on my feet and Roy has none!

Finally we left the beautiful West Coast and took the road over Arthur's Pass heading to the east side again.

Weather was gorgeous as we stocked up with provisions at New World in Greymouth before the steep climb.

Brief photo call at the Otira Stagecoach Hotel to snap Gollum and Gandalf and the other ogre things that I'll have to ask John about, I think they're Orcs?

Lunch at Temple Basin track head before doing the the track, which zigzags steeply 500 metres to the ski club buildings to give magnificent views of Mt Rolleston and Kaimatau across the valley.

Drove short distance to Arthurs Pass Village and got a site on the DOC campground at Avalanche Creek Shelter, which was at the side of the railway near the entrance to the Otira tunnel, 8.5 kms long and a gradient of 1 in 33. It was bored from both ends in 1908, the two ends met in 1918 and opened for traffic in 1923.

Had a look in Visitor centre and he advised we do the Devils Punchbowl Falls walk this evening instead of tomorrow as forecast is rain.

What a stunning walk climbing 150 metres up a series of steps to a viewing platform of this spectacular 131 metre waterfall. Another fantastic day!

A WEKA

ON THE PASS ROAD FOUND GANDALF

AND GOLLUM!

ORCS??

OFFERS ANYONE

A KEA IN THE WILD, THE ALPINE NEW ZEALAND PARROT WHO'S VERY MISCHIEVOUS 

OTIRA VIADUCT

LUNCH AT TEMPLE BASIN BEFORE THE HIKE UP

STILL SOME FLOWERS IN BLOOM

TEMPLE BASIN HIKE

ALMOST TO THE SKI HUTS

WE MADE IT!

DEVILS PUNCHBOWL FALLS

DEVILS PUNCHBOWL FALLS

I FOUND A BELL AT ARTHURS PASS VILLAGE CHAPEL

COMING OUT OF THE TUNNEL

FROM THE TASMAN SEA TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN

After a nights camping at the top of Arthurs Pass, we headed downhill and across the the east side. We've had to do a short diversion due to road closures on main road that takes us north to Kaikoura where we hope to take a boat trip to whale watch. When we leave we may have a bigger diversion as road north of Kaikoura is also blocked from cyclone event but fingers crossed they get it open in time.

A lovely day, quite a long drive but places to see on the way. Weather has improved from this mornings drizzle on the tops and much warmer this side.

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER

LEAVING ARTHURS PASS

CAVE STREAM EXIT ON RIGHT SIDE

CAVE STREAM ENTRANCE

CAVE ENTRANCE

FURTHER INTO CAVE ENTRANCE

CAVE STREAM AREA