This week we are doing our lap of the South Island (well as much as we can fit in).
To kick things off we caught a bus from Nelson to Greymouth. We were keen to do the Tranz Alpine rail trip.
It was quite an unorthodox birthday for Sam, but surprisingly a 5 hour bus trip with the kids went super quick. There were a few stops along the way, but the most spectacular was Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks).
Formed 30 million years ago from minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants landed on the seabed about 2 km below the surface. Immense water pressure caused the fragments to solidify in hard and soft layers. Gradually seismic action lifted the limestone above the seabed. Mildly acidic rain, wind and seawater sculpted the bizarre shapes.
Last time I was at Pancake Rocks the day was a typical West Coast day (raining sideways). However for our visit the day was about as good as it gets. Just enough of a swell to get a little blow hole action too.
Once we'd hit Greymouth it was time for a brewery tour. Yes, a brewery tour on Sam's birthday & she doesn't drink beer. Greymouth is the home of the Monteith's Brewery. You're probably wondering what the hell I was going to a mainstream brewery for ? And rightly so.
What I wanted to get out of it was some of the history and to checkout some of the equipment they use. They open ferment and primarily use a lager yeast.
However my plans were thwarted when the brewery recently closed for a NZ$4.5 million refit. A slightly interactive DVD tour is currently being presented before a tasting of the seven Monteith's beers and their cider.
The mens urinals however were designed and built by the breweries head engineer. Fabricated out of 50L kegs they are a work of art and function.
The ladies hand basin was also a converted 50L keg. Pure kiwi ingenuity.
We did manage to find a decent restaurant close to our accommodation to celebrate Sam's birthday.
After our overnight stay we checked out the History House Museum in Greymouth.
There was quite a wealth of local history in the museum.
The Tranz Alpine trip itself was very spectacular. The 18 tunnels, the Alpine Pass and the many viaducts.
Next stop Dunedin.
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