Travelled: 122 kms

We rode on beside the beautiful Buller River and then into Westport for a couple of nights exploring the town and the harbour side coastal bike trail and visited the wonderful coal museum. With the best hot chips were had at the Denniston Dog. Only to realise the next morning we had left without paying!! Sorted before leaving town.

Leaving Monday morning we headed out on the Kawatiri Cycleway to Carters Beach. The Cycleway was the best we have ridden on. Great trail, wide platforms, lots of info boards and even a swing bridge – just beautifully done.

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Then onto Cape Foulwind and the lighthouse. Despite the windy conditions the ride was well worth it. The colours in the cliffs and rawness of landscape.

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The Coast was magnificent!

We stopped short of our Charleston destination at Jack’s Gasthof Camping enticed by the pizzeria sign at the gateway. A beautiful area run by Petra and Jack. Basic, but it had a lovely outdoor shower by a stream and pizza and wine for dinner. What could be better!

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We met another guest there, wildlife photographer Andy Underwood, who made us a cuppa the next morning and showed us some of his photographs. Some truly stunning images.

Punakaiki was our next stop, having 3 largish hills to conquer on the way. Putting my head down and one revolution at a time, they passed with relative ease while we rode by some of the most amazing coastline. The day was sunny and the water gleamed in reflection, with the waves continuing to roll in to shore and around the rocky outcrops.

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Settled in at the Punakaiki Beach Camp we wandered around the little settlement with its long surfing beach and pretty beachside cottages.

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The day ended with our first whitebait fritters of the trip, thanks to Pete’s little caravan shop on site in the campground.

Deciding to enjoy all we had for another day, we hired 2 canoes the next day and paddled up the Pororari River for a couple of hours. The clear river wound it’s way through a beautifully peaceful setting below the tall rockfaces edged with Nikau palms and lush fauna. With a couple of small rapids to negotiate, by getting out and pulling the canoe over them, we stopped at a rocky outcrop for a cup of tea . . . only to discover we had left the gas behind!

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In the afternoon, we walked up the hill to the Pancake Rocks.

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The walkways were so well done and the rocks were fantastic and we enjoyed watching the nesting terns fly around doing their business.

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Watching the sunset was a perfect end to our time here.

Looking forward to Greymouth and the West Coast Wilderness Trail…