We left Punakaiki yesterday after spending four nights there resting from days spent exploring all there was to see in that lovely place. After asking a local how many people actually live there, I discovered that the number was even smaller than I had imagined.
She said that she was not exactly sure, but somewhere between 30 and 100 people lived in or close to Punakaiki with most providing services in some way to people like us who come to stay for a few days or those who pass through quickly stopping only for a few posed photos in front of the famous Pancake Rocks. I am going to show you some of what you miss if you think all Punakaiki has to offer are pancakes without syrup.
You can see that the rocks resemble a stack of pancakes from where they take their name.
John and I had the good fortune to be able to stay at a sweet little place just down the beach here about 30 steps from the sea.
In addition to some lovely sea views there was a path along a river in a park not far from where we were staying.
There was almost no one around until we spotted this man in the bushes photographing the river with a baby on his back. I had just snapped the photo below when I saw him and realized that he was photographing his wife and son on the river.
Our day trips included some cave time for me with John keeping an eye on the tide coming in while I went exploring. I’ll show you what I discovered next time.
One of my favorite photos of John lately … taken at sunset not long before I took the picture below.
Punakaiki Beach At Sunset
Gifts Of The Journey 
Wow, what an amazing trip you all are on. I have been catching up and it looks like John is an ace travel planner…that is the sort of vacation Shayne and I would love to be on…my fav picture of my DH is with us watching a sunset in Bellingham, WA too…have a lovely time, and thank you for the amazing photos!
Fab photos, keep ’em coming, cheer us snow bound types up! x
OH, Elizabeth….those pictures are simply wonderous. What images, light and beauty.
These pictures are incredible….I don’t think I would have been able to leave the island, it’s so beautiful and serene.
So is there any talking about emigrating yet, is what I want to know!!. It’s so clear and crisp and clean.
Stunning 🙂 Everyone is going to be so jealous of John’s tan when you get to the US!
Absolutely breath taking! Ah, sigh, how wonderful. I’ve never been to that part of New Zealand and it is very high on my ‘wish list’. When the children are older we shall have to take to the road with them. Lovely photograph of your John too – such happy, smiling eyes and a nice tan too! 🙂
What lovely images. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
…well folks, I think she has been weaned off her computer for a little while. Not away from her friends, but just from her computer. For now. (Can you imagine how many pictures are being taken??!!!….)
Keep safe and well all, M