Time for a little stitching, and Pancake Rocks

We have moved on to the tiny settlement of Barrytown and I had an hour or so sitting under the shady awning doing a little stitching. We are camped up on a hill and have a wonderful sea view.

Not only did I finish this tiny little dove from Noah's Ark stitchery, but worked a little longer to start the next design – two kangaroos waiting to hop onboard the ark.

Just a small finish

Sitting outside in the balmy evening with our camping neighbours, we were chatting away and waiting for the sun to go down into the horizon on the Tasman Sea.  How spectacular that turned out, well worth the biting insects making a meal of us, regardless of the repellant we had put on.

Sunset at Barrytown

The next morning we back tracked 16km  to arrive at the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.  The pancake rock formations were created by the wind and rain eating into the softer layers of rock between harder layers of stratified limestone.  The sedimentary rock was formed on the sea bed millions of years ago, before being uplifted and eroded into the pancake rock pattern that is marveled over today.  This attraction is looked after by the Department of Conservation and entry is free.

The start of the boardwalk is an attractive walk through nikau palms, and then glimpses of the pancake rocks appear.  We both took our sticks for this walk for safety in the crowds, what a pair of old crocks we are.  And there certainly were crowds of people everywhere, all jostling for the closest positions at the photo stops.   The pancake rocks were just as spectacular as we remembered.  There were information boards dotted along the paths.   Tourists were out in force, we heard all sorts of languages spoken around us.  A young woman kindly took our photo for us.

Pancake rocks

We saw some white fronted terns on the rocks, and Robin’s larger camera captured them much better than my point and shoot camera could.  These birds capture small fish by plunge-diving from a hovering flight a few metres above the sea.

White Fronted Tern

After our walk around this interesting place, it was time for lunch at the Pancake Rocks Café.   We chose a table out in the awning and I mentioned to the young man clearing the tables how much cooler it was out there.   I did feel sorry for him when he replied that he didn't notice, he was too busy working!  The serving of pancakes were huge, too much for me to finish.

Lunch at the café

I visited the adjacent gift shop, really expecting to see items aimed at tourists to New Zealand.  There was plenty of that, but I did find something which took my fancy, an apron for the caravan.  I’m sure I've mentioned before that I always wear an apron while I'm cooking or preparing food – because I’m a messy cook!

A little something for me