New Zealand #9: Bus trip along the West Coast

[canadian_turtle]

Mood: || Productive
Tune : Westlife - "When You're Looking Like That"







July 7: The trip from Nelson to Franz Josef is one set alongside the amazing West Coast of New Zealand. We were on the road for a good 9 hours and because I can't read in the bus (it makes me sick) and for once I didn't fall asleep I had plenty of time to soak up the amazing scenery we drove through.

We left really early in the morning; the sun was just coming up. I saw patches of pink appearing in the sky amongst the dull coloured mass, pink mountain peaks and eventually everything was basking in a bright red glow. Amazing. When the sun was high in the sky I could see the snowcapped mountains peak out from underneath thick blankets of fog. They were encircled by the fog from the base, only their peaks visible as if floating on the air. Little puffy clouds of fog were also nestled in between the trees; very mystical, like we had driven into an imaginary world.

For a while we passed a landscape covered in snow peaked mountains, flowing rivers and little creeks with stony beds until we came to colder parts of the country and some of the creeks were iced over and there was snow alongside the roads and hidden between the trees.

As expected from New Zealand animal wise sheep dominated the landscape. Sometimes we passed a patch of land filled with cow or deer and once I spotted a random turkey walking around the grass in between the white dots. At one point we also had a big herd of cow smack down in the middle of the street in front of us, a huge traffic jam of cars on their tails. A lot of honking and patience later we finally managed to pass them. It was an experience on its own xD

At lunchtime we had a stop in a tiny little village called Punakaiki; known for its magnificent views on the coastline and more famously the Pancake Rocks. This was an unexpected stop for me and a lovely surprise. Instead of munching on lunch I spent my lunch half hour exploring the rock formations.


Sunrise...


...over snowy mountains






A sign at an i-site in one of the cities where we stopped. A hoodie must be something else than a jumper with a hood on it here?


Cows crossing the road!


The start of magnificent coast line views












This is from our lunch stop at Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks
















I was wearing like 4 layers and I was still cold...


But the view was worth it


I love this shot






























And... we're back on the bus!


Deer farm






Awesome clock we drove by in Hokitika, apparently xD



More pictures can be found HERE.

Comments

[never-evil.livejournal.com]

PRETTINESS ABOUNDS :D

Oh I like those beginning shots with the fogginess! And the shot you mention that you love - it has awesome rocks :O I've never seen that sort before!

hmmm AFAIK what that shop was saying was that they don't want you coming in with your head covered inside a 'hood' because that might make you seem like a dodgy crim? IDK though, just guessing here...

That clock really is awesome!

[jaydeyn-sitari.livejournal.com]

Those are amazing rocks! Almost like shale in formation... wow. WOW. :D

And at a guess, the jacket with a hood is a hoodie. It is here. :)

:)
Jaydeyn

[cornix.livejournal.com]

This looks like the same bus trip I took when I was 12! Except we ended up at Fox Glacier instead of Franz Josef because my mother's friend ran a motel there.

I think the Pancake Rocks are called that because they look like they're in stacks... but yes, I've never seen such oddly shaped pancakes!

[miss-miso.livejournal.com]

You take such lovely photos! The West Coast looks as wild and beautiful as I remember it being. But, OMG, you look so cold, you poor thing! My parents have been whining about how cold it is in the North Is, but it must be quite a bit colder down south.

And, yep, your flist is right: a "hoodie" is NZ slang for a jumper with a hood. You can wear it, just not with the hood up. Due to security issues, not the fashion police! They're popular with tweenie gangs. Not the hardcore dudes, just shoplifters etc.

Glad to hear you're still having fun :)

[decadentdream.livejournal.com]

well I'm not going to repeat Parul over the hoodie & the pancake rocks, but I believe she is right ;)

So pancakes are not only yummy, they make very pretty rocks as well! XD (You're so gonna make me hungry!)

[red-sunflower.livejournal.com]

Those rock formations are incredible! All your photos are eye catching, thanks for sharing them!

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Oh yay, you went to Pancake Rocks! (Punakaiki!). It is pretty there especially at high tide when the water swells and sprays up.

A hoodie must be something else than a jumper with a hood on it here?

No, a hoodie is exactly that - a jumper with a hood! I imagine it is a security thing that they don't want people to wear them.

You're more in my territory now. I'm pretty good with South Island stuff. :D

[gossy16.livejournal.com]

omg, the views really do look amazing! :D