Pancake Rocks

After getting off the Tranz Scenic in Greymouth I hopped on a bus and headed towards Nelson. The first part of the drive was along the coast with views of golden beaches and some hairpin bends:


Tea stop was at Punakaiki with a chance to see the Pancake Rocks. Layers of mudstone and limestone with the former eroding quicker than the latter leaving the pancake effect:





The road then headed inland through former gold mining settlements like Charleston which in the 1860s had a population of 40,000, 80 hotels and 3 breweries - just one hotel left today. Then it follows the Buller River gorge, twisting along this mesmerising route. Arrived that evening in Nelson.