Glacier to Buller District

There were so many long but interesting drives between places with amazing views. Another great experience was from the Glaciers all the way to the Buller Gorge.

Ross was a beautiful historic town known for its Gold panning.

We drove past amazing, long, untouched beaches. Perfect spot for some penguins and seals to live.

At Punakaiki we saw the pancake rocks. Yes, massive rocks that looked like stacked up pancakes! It’s a stunning place to visit.

Cape Foulwind is also a nice place to stop to see the fur seals and great coastal views.

There is a campsite just a short drive from the seal colony, at Carters beach where we stayed for a night. Again a top10 branded park but quite basic with a great play park for the girls and spotless facilities. We took a walk along the beach in the evening and sat in a café (with a glass of wine) to watch the sunset while the girls played in another play park across the road… just perfect!

Buller Gorge area was more breath taking scenery, windy narrow mountain roads…massive drops down to gorge. At one point the road has been cut into the rock where a solid granite rock overhangs a single lane stretch of the road with hundreds meters drop on the side… it wouldn’t be that scary in a car but we are in a massive motorhome that just about fits on that path!!! We have seen so many strange road settings, even drove to a roundabout where the train tracks goes right through the middle and on the bridge where you actually drive on the rail tracks!!! How wrong and weird is that… and who gives a way to who? There isn’t any traffic lights or warning, just need to go for it and look if any trains coming, brilliant!

We stopped at the New Zealand’s longest swing bridge, which wasn’t my favourite I have to say! It has already been proven on this trip I am not good with the heights… especially involving water underneath! I did manage to take few photos by holding on with one hand!!!