West Coat Humour

Saw this in a shop in Hokitika. Love the sentiment.

After Kayak Drinks

Afterwards we had drinks at the Punakaiki tavern, a fine establishment. Outside are these concrete dray horses.

Out to Sea

We traveled up the river for as fas as we could and then turned around and paddled downstream through the lagoon to the mouth of the river. We didn't enter the sea as the west coast beaches can be quite wild.

Floating

The Pororari river cuts through a deep limestone canyon. the banks are covered in ferns, nikau and rimu trees. It is a great walk but the view from the river is even better.

Heading Upriver

In places the river was too low or we hit some rapids so we got out and pulled the kayaks along.

Canyon Walls

Rest Stop

There were lots of opportunities to get out and explore the river banks. James loved helping pull the kayaks up and tying them up.

Follow Mum

James was in a double kayak with me and Tracy had a single. The river was very calm.

Kayaking

We have not been kayaking since James was born and I haven't kayaked this river since 2003. However James is getting good at swimming and wanted to have a go so here we are. James was a natural. He knew just how to use the paddles to turn left and right.

Beachcomber

While we built our beach house, Big James went for a stroll along the beach. The view of the waves with the rain forest in the distance and Mt Cook towering in the distance is great.

Room With A View

It might look a bit ropey but the view was great. James decided it was a jail and locked me up. We stayed there till the sun was low in the sky. We watched a family catching fish. The dad paddled out to sea trailing a line of hooks stretching back to the beach.

Beach House

James and I built a beach house from drift wood.

Buried

Whenever we go to the beach I have to do this.

Punakaiki Beach

Paddling in a Lagoon

Today we drove up to the Paparoa national park, one of my favourite parts of New Zealand. James loves beaches so we walked along the beach next to the lagoon formed by the Pororari river.

Hokitika

James used the driftwood to make this sign. I told him how to spell Hokitika but he made the letters all by himself.

Driftwood

Most of the beaches on the west coast are littered with driftwood especially at the mouths of the larger rivers.

View North From Hokitika Beach

Mt Cook from Hokitika Beach

Franz Josef River