West coast

Tony: After the showers of Arthur's Pass we drove West to the coast. The vegetation changed to subtropical and palms and tree ferns dominated. We visited the Jade museum in Greymouth and then headed to the coastal town of Punakaiki. Punakaiki is perhaps most famous for the Pancake Rocks as well as it's stunning beaches and dense forest.

Palm trees on the beach.

The Pancake Rocks comprise layers of hard weathering limestone with thin strata of easily weathered mudstone between. It's a mystery to geologists what circumstances led to the deposition of material in such a manner. Now the rocks stand in rows or fins and experience the full force of the Tasman Sea, which continually shapes them into stranger structures.

Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

Water forced up through a blow hole between the rocks.

The Tasman Sea crashes into Sea cliffs.

We followed the coast to examine some of the local geology. Many of the rocks were very soft and we could break chunks off with our fingers. Compared with our fingers the sea is an awesome force in breaking rocks and we could see huge cliffs where the sea had cut large overhangs.

This cliff was about 30m high. It might look like good Blue Mountain sport climbing but the rock was way too soft to pull on.

Anni enjoying the West Coast.

As well as the geology, we were also intrigued by the biology. In the dense forest we could hear much animal life but with the exception of a goat, we couldn't see any of it.

Goin' Bush (as the locals say)

Sometimes the vegetation looked like an impenetrable wall.

A small frond uncurls - one day to be a mighty tree fern?

All this wet forest, feeds huge rivers.

The sun sets on our West Coast adventures and we head North towards Abel Tasman National Park.