We departed Akaroa for Atarau near Greymouth on the West Coast. Exiting Atarau involves a windy mountainous road before you reach the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch en route to Arthur’s Pass and the coast. Our van’s brakes began to howl as we drove this route and we spent the afternoon receiving begrudging and not very timely service at Jucy in Christchurch. Consequently, we crossed Arthur’s Pass in the dark, unfortunate as it is a scenic national park.

Our time on the West Coast focused on the Pancake Rocks, Shantytown (a gold mining museum south of Greymouth) and a Paparoa Wildlife Trust release of kiwi chicks to Atarau Sanctuary, a predator protected environment.

We finished with a drive down this beautiful coast to Haast.

Next.