NZ West Coast Wonders

 This place just keeps getting better and better! We made our way up the west coast stopping at various points of interest. And passing some unusual sights…


…a cow running down the road! I won’t mention the poor bird that flew into the windshield and got stuck in the windshield wiper (oops, I guess I just did)! No, sadly he did not survive.

It’s crazy how such a small country can have such a variety of ecosystems; tropical forests, farmland, glaciers, rock formations, beaches…and that’s just on the South Island! 

In Franz Josef we stayed in a cute green Airbnb with a big red bus parked in front. Nearby hikes were stunning!





From Franz Josef we made our way over windy, steep roads stopping at Punakaiki National park to walk among the pancake rocks, and explore a cool cave.






Luckily we hit the blow holes at just the right time of day to experience the roar and thunder of the crashing water on and in the rocks.




Next stop… Carters Beach!







A mouse in the house and a white tailed spider made for an exciting evening of shrieks and laughter… mostly shrieks and overturned couches in an attempt to catch the cute rodent. The spider never stood a chance!

On to an abandoned coal mine and seal colony on day two in this area.








I don’t know what it is about baby seals but I could watch them play in the water all day!



Exploring a small cave. 



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