A foul wind and a skewed sunset.

We were a little closer to home (home being a small but serviceable motel complex with vacancies) today. The first stop was the ominously-named Cape Foulwind, where we were going to take a look at the lighthouse and then the nearby seal colony. I remained stoic on the short drive there, despite the overly-predictable jests in my direction from the kids once they learned the name of our destination.

I could have sworn the information regarding the walk included details such as "short", "easy", "flat" and "accessible". I also noted something about a predicted 15-30 minute return.

It appears this may have been for another walk entirely. As the path wound its way steadily upwards (no giant stairs or chains bolted to cliff-faces in my defence), the kids cast increasingly disapproving glances in my direction.

The lighthouse - was in fact only 7 or so minutes from the car park.

I tried to reason that the see-sawing gradients (described as "some undulations") effectively cancelled each other out - so the path was actually flat after all. The kids didn't buy it.

Josh negotiating a fence.

There continued to be a distinct lack of fencing in parts.

Lily spotting a fairly nonchalant Weka
(a far more capable and therefore less-threatened version of the Kiwi).

It turned out that the car park we'd selected was actually for the lighthouse, with the seal colony at the other end of a lengthy series of rises and descents that had even some fairly fit-looking folk sweating enthusiastically. I scouted on ahead - and somehow made it to the seal colony, before returning to the rest of the family and suggesting we make our way back to the car and drive instead.

The return to the car was a little more sedate.

More Wekas (pronounced 'weekah') were wandering about the car park at Tauranga Bay, with signs now guaranteeing it being only 15 minutes to the colony.

Tauranga Bay - enormous tidal variation included.

The older kids opted out (apparently not believing my vouching for the ease of access), with Jen and Josh joining me for the embarrassingly quick trip to the observation deck. I'd somewhat foolishly left my telephoto lens in the luggage back at the motel - so had to point my camera in the general direction of the seals in question (including some very cute pups) and just hope for the best.

Josh's fortunate verdict was "worth it".

There are at least 2 seals in the photo - I swear!

We popped back to our motel room to grab the fuel voucher docket before trying the local Caltex (no prices listed - which was a worry). We were right to worry.

Our next destination was Punakaiki - more specifically the geological formations known as the Pancake Rocks (as well as some nearly-as-famous pancake stacks - from the Cafe across the road). Jen advised taking the same road we'd used on our journey to Cape Foulwind / coastal walk extravaganza). I voiced my disbelief (an interminable, querying tone) that this would be the main road south. Jen, tapping her phone, assured us all that she had it on Google Maps' good authority that this was the sole way south. When our meagre country lane (cows looked up in surprise as we sailed past) joined up with the actual highway south (State Highway 6) - I tried to keep a smug look from my face but failed miserably.

View from the Great Coast Road -
take that Surf Highway.

The scenery on the way down (State Highway 6 is also known as the Great Coast Road) was amazing - nikau palms and tree ferns festooning from the mountain side on the left, and the Tasman Sea - littered with rock formations to the right.

 

The pancake stacks were indeed tasty, but a touch excessive (Hamish may disagree with this). We popped across the road (dodging tour vans and hitch-hiking back-packers on our way) and took a look at the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes walk.

Our initial impressions of the rock formations were less than glowing (Lily announcing,"well that's the weakest effort I've ever seen"). It became apparent that we went in a little too hard, a little too early - as there were some pretty impressive vistas as we made our way around the walk (although am not certain where it finally placed on Lily's effort scale).

All pancaked out - we returned to our motel, dropping the kids off to their respective devices before calling into New World supermarket to get some meals sorted for the next day. Jen delighted in catching up with her bestie from the check-out once again. While there - I couldn't help but notice a large bag of pre-cooked sausages. These are in pretty much every supermarket in New Zealand, and I am intrigued.

Imagine wandering out of the shop,
just snacking on some of these bad boys.

We picked up some dinner (not consisting of pre-cooked sausages) from Smiley's Pizza and Takeaway (as opposed to Grumpy's around the corner - I kid you not). Jen was still keen to see the sunset over the water, so we made our way to the northern point of the mouth of the Buller River...at a little after 8:30pm (sunset is at 9pm). It turns out that Westport is yet another west-coastal town that faces north.

The point is essentially a length of roadway that has a turning circle part-way along - but then proceeds for another 100 meters or so. After I reversed along this final length of roadway (the local car enthusiasts looking on in a bemused fashion), Jen thought it a great idea for us to park the car in the turning circle and wander back up to the end of the point for a photo or two.

It turns out that a KiwiExperience tour bus makes use of just that turning circle, and had its hazard lights flashing as Jen raced back to the car to quickly move it out of the road - before dozens of tourists piled out (hey - someone had to take the photos of the event).

Westport - just shy of 9pm.