Down the West Coast and a Poo Party!

 April 2012: Driving down the West Coast of the South Island

Oops! I have once again, left it a long time to update and I am writing what should have been the end of April 2012, months later. It is now Sunday 9th September 2012! I am currently located in Glasgow and will write about this adventure a little later. I like to keep things chronological, even though I am not writing on schedule!

SO.. The next leg of the trip was driving down the West Coast of the South Island. Supposedly a very scenic route but well known for it’s blustery and turbulent weather. It really didn’t let me down, it started off nice enough but the grey wet weather followed shortly. It did however, make for some lovely moody photos and didn’t stop anyone from seeing the beauty that was on offer. s

Here are some pics of one of our walk around Cape Foulwind.

Before the wet weather at Cape Foulwind. Was definitely windy!

Local wildlife.

Our next stop was Westport. Bit of a pointless stopover in my opinion, as there really wasn’t much to do, or at least, nothing was recommended. I believe it was added just so the driving time wasn’t so long in one day. People made use of a local gig (which I heard wasn’t that great!) and I took the opportunity to chill at the hostel and make some more new friends. Met a lovely German couple, Freddy (Frida) and Phillip and an equally lovely Danish couple, Sabrina and Daniel. The only story I can relay of Westport was of how Daniel went AWOL for the night after not making it into the gig, but was luckily recovered in the morning after having passed out at a random locals’ place! It became a bit of a legend amongst the other buses I travelled on and I’m sure he doesn’t mind me sharing this story!

Pancake Rocks.

 There was another stopover at Punakaiki where we got to walk around the Pancake Rocks. I love these sort of naturally occurring features. I am a bit of a wannabe geologist sometimes! Apparantly the rocks here came to be from the tenuous tectonic activity that goes on in the area (well, the whole of New Zealand). Mix that with the erosion coming from the battering of the sea and you get Pancake Rocks and their blowholes that go off at high tide.

Later, we arrived at Greymouth and are told by our driver, Cam, to get together something to wear for tonight’s Poo Party. The Poo Party is a fancy dress party at a little place called the Poo Pub, in Lake Mahinapua, where prizes would be given to those who are voted best dressed. The theme for our party was the “Olympics” or “sports”, seeing as it’s an Olympic year. Greymouth was wet and windy, not the best weather for shopping but we made use of the time. We all visited a dollar shop followed by Warehouse for any bits and bobs. We all got back to the bus sopping wet and ready for costume prep and most importantly some food!!

  When we got to the Poo Pub, it was still raining heavy and so miserably grey that it was impossible unless you wanted to get totally soaked to see the lake that the area is known for. The place itself was a bit dated and the dorm rooms were made of little cabins. The most disappointing part for me was how terrible the beds were. You were swallowed by them as soon as you sat on them. Les, the old man who was approximately 80, who had some quirky and no nonsense attitude, seemed like a relatively sound guy though it did get me thinking that the beds were probably as old as he was, given the state of them!

Sabrina and Daniel! :D

My 2nd place costume!

1st place John McEnroe...

Anyway, the party was a lot of fun. It was great seeing everyone’s ideas for budget costumes and I managed to get 2nd place with my “Sports Page” of a newspaper! The winner was “John McEnroe” due to the fact that the guy, John, bought clothes a few sizes too small and struggled wearing them all night. Not to mention not being able to sit down!! He got my vote! The winner won a free Canyon Swing in Queenstown and I got myself a free dvd and photo package for a bungee. Unfortunately, I was too chicken to use this!! Was tempted but the fear was just too much!


-Sherin x