All aboard the Transalpine Railway. It transported us across the Alps to the Tasman Sea. This trip took 4.5 hours.
The lady on my right is Dawn from the UK. She and her husband, John, just completed a month-long camper trip across NZ. We became chummy on the train.
Pete, Dawn & John enjoying the ride
John on the observation deck
The train made some stops so that we could take pictures.
Hurry up, Pete, the train is taking off.
We are headed toward Arthur’s Pass, the summit. The ground is covered in frost.
The view from the observation deck
We made it to the other side of the Alps, said “good-bye” to our UK friends, rented another Toyota and headed to Punakaiki.
This area houses the famous NZ Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.
The area is famous for its pancake-stacked rock formations.
They are a product of weathered limestone lifted by the sea as a result of seismic action.
A stack of hotcakes, anyone? They are served at the café next to this 20 minute circular loop track. No lie.
Flax is everywhere here. It can be woven. Someone did the honors of weaving this plant.
The gift shops sell flax products and artwork of flax products.
More woven flax
More artwork of flax
A blowhole occurs when the sea wears away the limestone & creates holes in it. The waves at high tide put on a spectacular show by forcing water through the holes.
Tourists wait for huge waves to roll in and form dramatic water surges.
This place and this time of year attracts many professional photographers with heavy duty camera gear.
Sea spray emerging from a blowhole
A huge blowhole. Sea water shoots to the top during high tide.
Mr. GoPro We met 2 ladies with a long pole hanging over the edge of the cliff with a GoPro attached to it. ” Necessity is the mother of invention,” for sure.
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