GO WEST
GO WEST
Cape Foulwind is an unfair name for this next stop on our tiki tour. There was no foul wind nor much wind at all. Having just stayed at the Settlers Motel in Hanmer Springs, we were now staying at the Settlers Motel, Cape Foulwind. Very nice motel room/chalet, quite spacious and with a hot tub just outside under the trees. We had a nice meal at the pub next door where I played pool with Mark whilst we waited for our food and was lucky enough to beat him but it was a low quality game! Next day we went to Denniston, an old coal mining town which is being set up as an historic village but they need to do more work if they want to bring in tourists. Its perched high on the hills, above the clouds. It was very wet and visibility was very poor (see picture below right) but gave you a feeling of how hard life must have been.
Westport is a reasonably big town next to Denniston. It has seen better days but apparently it is being revived.Not noticable yet. We had lunch there and shopped for provisions for our next stay. On we went to Punskaiki, to see the pancake rocks and blow holes (see pictures above left and centre). The views and a well planned walk around the amazing structures were great and all for free. In the UK this would carry a charge to visit.
That night we stayed at a homestead near Barry Town, off the beaten track (see picture right) and tucked into the forest. A great opportunity to see an example of an early settlers house which he had built himself and then added to as times improved. Everything made himself or by the present owner, his daughter. Then it was off to Hokitika, a small seaside town to visit a shop that sold gold, walk along their unusual promenade (see picture below) and to ride a boat through the wetlands (seepicture right). This was excellent and unusual.
Debbie and Mark were correct that the scenery on the west coast of South Island is nothing like that on the east coast, but didn't make it better or worse, just different with its own charm. We enjoyed these days very much.
l.
Cape Foulwind is an unfair name for this next stop on our tiki tour. There was no foul wind nor much wind at all. Having just stayed at the Settlers Motel in Hanmer Springs, we were now staying at the Settlers Motel, Cape Foulwind. Very nice motel room/chalet, quite spacious and with a hot tub just outside under the trees. We had a nice meal at the pub next door where I played pool with Mark whilst we waited for our food and was lucky enough to beat him but it was a low quality game! Next day we went to Denniston, an old coal mining town which is being set up as an historic village but they need to do more work if they want to bring in tourists. Its perched high on the hills, above the clouds. It was very wet and visibility was very poor (see picture below right) but gave you a feeling of how hard life must have been.
Westport is a reasonably big town next to Denniston. It has seen better days but apparently it is being revived.Not noticable yet. We had lunch there and shopped for provisions for our next stay. On we went to Punskaiki, to see the pancake rocks and blow holes (see pictures above left and centre). The views and a well planned walk around the amazing structures were great and all for free. In the UK this would carry a charge to visit.
That night we stayed at a homestead near Barry Town, off the beaten track (see picture right) and tucked into the forest. A great opportunity to see an example of an early settlers house which he had built himself and then added to as times improved. Everything made himself or by the present owner, his daughter. Then it was off to Hokitika, a small seaside town to visit a shop that sold gold, walk along their unusual promenade (see picture below) and to ride a boat through the wetlands (seepicture right). This was excellent and unusual.
Debbie and Mark were correct that the scenery on the west coast of South Island is nothing like that on the east coast, but didn't make it better or worse, just different with its own charm. We enjoyed these days very much.l.
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