Finally one of the first days of sunshine after two days of complete downpour. We made our way from Onekaka towards Takaka. We strolled around the little town of Takaka and sampled some delicious gin from a local distillery called Dancing Sands. The gin there was distilled from the local Manuka honey leaves and was fantastic. We then made our way towards Greymouth and stopped at Waikoropupu Springs, also known locally as Pupu Springs. This spring was beautiful, you cannot even touch the water by law there, as it is considered a healing spring in Maori culture.
Pupu Springs
Crystal clear water at Pupu Springs
This was the small window of time we had to explore, then we got on the road to head towards Graymouth. We scooped up fellow Wanderluster friend Jacky to join the Camper family.
We set up shop overnight at the Salmon Cafe in Puringa. Neat little place, where they farm salmon.
Then next morning we started our journey through the Haast Pass. This included the following stops along the way:
First stop Ship Creek. This little beach was covered with drift wood and was quite windy!
Drift wood covered beach in Ship Creek
Second stop was Depot Creek Falls - This is a secret waterfall that Scott Cook writes about in NZ Frenzy.
Depot Creek Falls
Third stop was Roaring Billy Falls - This was pretty neat, as the water level was low enough for us to walk out into the bed of the river.
Roaring Billy Falls
Katy snappin
Fourth stop was Thunder Creek Falls.
Thunder Creek
Fifth stop was Fantail Falls - this secret track to view the falls across the crystalline Haast River, to this picturesque stair-step waterfall.
Last stop the Blue Pools - a short walk over a swing bridge overlooking deep blue crystal clear waters. Eye candy on a sunny day indeed
Blue Lake
Blue Pools