The morning after we’d been recommended to drive to Punakaiki, home of the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. It was a 20 minute walk around the limestone rocks, which looked like pancakes!! Luckily it was high tide when we arrived so the blowholes were on top form. The noise the water made as it was being pushed through the holes in the limestone was amazing, a massive roar!! We were so lucky with the weather, the sun was shining and the rocks looked awesome sparkling in the sun. After a take away brew we had to drive back along the coastal road back to Greymouth. Our last time driving the Camry.
We drove it to the train station and checked our luggage in for the Tranz Alpine Train journey.
We had an hour to wait so we had a walk around the shops, booking our accommodation for Christchurch and even managing a pint of Speights in the brewery.
We boarded the 1.45pm train from Greymouth to Christchurch. We managed to get a good carriage, right between the food cart and the viewing deck. Took us a while to actually get out of Greymouth, but soon we were heading along through the fields and lakes.
After some food and a beer we got brave and stepped out onto the viewing deck. It was an open carriage and when going through the tunnels, filled with smoke and steam from the train.
We crossed through Arthur’s Pass and here entered the longest tunnel at 8.5km long!! The train lost power of the signals so it took us longer than it should, it was dark as we arrived at Christchurch at 7pm.
We collected our bags and walked straight onto a shuttle bus to our motel. It was late once we checked into the Amross Court Motel, so a take away pizza was called for.
After checking in we heard first of the Volcano in Iceland. Not having Sky News was not a great help and with it being the weekend, our usual dose of Sunrise TV wasn’t available.
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