Cycling Westport Punakaiki Greymouth Hokitika

7^th October Westport -  Punakaiki 59km

Well we didn’t get what we expected today!  We had a lie in 7am but the night before was more like staying in halls than a hostel with drunken kids kicking off just outside the hostel and generally a lot of noise.  This wouldn’t have been bad if you were in a room but the tent means you hear everything.  Not the best spot to camp.

So the forecast was for a sunny calm day, we had our coats on 5km out of Westport and a headwind.  Road hugs the coast, err if it does it must have long arms as we didn’t see the sea (except briefly at Charlestown) for 40km.  We also imagined that the coastal road would undulate but wouldn’t be too steep as the guide book does this route as part of 100km day.  Wrong again one really steep hill up and down after another.  If I had done the guide book route I would have found the author and beat him with the book!  Even the halfway café was no longer open.

So you would think we had a bad day but all in all it was still good just a little more tiring than we thought.  Found a cabin for $41 for the night, only $10 more than camping so it was a no brainer.  Went to look at the pancake rocks this place is famous for then went to the pub for a little snack of pie and chips washed down with a pint of larger!  We can even hear the sea from the nice warm cabin.

We seem to be eating loads, not sure if it is too much but time will tell.  I think we are burning at least 3000cal a day cycling so I should be eating 5500cal.  That is a lot of food!

Weather forecast is good for tomorrow then slowly goes downhill until Tuesday when it is going to pee down.  Guess we will just have to see.

Nice spot for a picnic

Pancacke rocks

Last stop of the day

8^th October Punakaiki – Greymouth 48km

Another lazy start and off we go into a dry morning.  The undulations get less and the views are incredible to start then pleasant as the road travels inland slightly along the side of pastures leading to the coast.  This stretch of road is flat and the speed picks up, there is nowhere to stop for a drink as the pub we passed is closed but we have flasks and snacks with us.  Eventually the road climbs and leaves the coast, just at the top of the clim we stop for lunch at a picnic bench and the rain starts.  Quite a heavy downpour but it only lasted a few minutes.  At the picnic spot a sign stated watch out for penguins, now you don’t see that everyday! and there stood a memorial for people who died in the local coal mine.

We had a headwind when we started again and passed a café in the next vi8llage, typical!  Anyway it is obvious this is a mining area with memorials and miners hall everywhere.  Head down we hit Greymouth early afternoon, found a hostel and got settled in.  YHA gave us the cycling discount so $58 for a double room. 

When we got to the town everything except the super market was shut, I can only just remember shops in the UK shutting on a Saturday afternoon, and this is the biggest place on the west coast!  Marilyn the cycle guide had described this place ‘like the end of the world’.  I am not sure I would go that far but instead of having our day off tomorrow we haave decided to cycle to Hokitika about 44km away and have the day off there.

Not a bad view from the road

I didn't ppppppick up any :-)

October 9^th Greymouth – Hokitika  46km

A late start, making the most of not camping the off into a grey morning.  The road was flat and the wind behind us so we flew along.  We stopped at a café just over 1 hour from the start and we were already halfway!  I treated myself to bacon and egg on toast and read all about 1080 poison the DOC are spraying all over NZ.  It is not a popular decision! 

Got to Hokitika, found a cheap cabin $46 a night and settled in.  The facilities are all good and the cabin clean and warm.  Hokitika is one of the main green stone producing areas so there are loads a shops selling the jewelry.  Tomorrow we are going to have a look.

Tonight though we bought a couple of pizzas and dvds.  A nice slob out evening followed by a lie in!!

Gotta love these kiwi signs!!!

October 10^th Day Off

Watched a film last night and another this morning while lying in bed!  Looked at the glass blowing, jade carving and sock museum!  A proper lazy day. Off to Hari Hari in the morning, the weather forecast is not so good but we should have a tailwind to go with the rain!