The pizzeria outside Charleston turned out to be a little stranger than we had imagined. We went in to check it out and found it run by eccentric heavy metal loving Germans. After having a pizza each (which were very nice) and a glass of wine we found the bar attached (with a disco ball), full of local New Zealanders and the hosts (about 6 people in total). We got the impression that the night could be a late one so we had a drink or two each and chatted to the people at the bar (one guy had family from Inis Boffin!) and got out of there when the music turned from Motor Head to German techno. It was all a bit odd. We filled Hyacinth full of water and headed off to Punakaiki to solve the riddle of the Pancake Rocks.
Now for the science bit: Through a layering-weathering process called stylobedding, the Dolomite Point limestone of Punakaiki has formed into what looks like piles of thick pancakes.
No one knows why this happens here so that's the mystery. Satisfied that erosion was the answer we took more photos:
At certain times when the tide is right the sea surges into caverns and comes out of blowholes (didn't happen while we were there).
If the rocks aren't impressive enough for you, you can imagine them in shapes of animals and people! What fun!
The hours we spent there imagining different things! The craic we had! Finally exhausted we took off and have stopped off at Lake Mahinapua for the night. We are heading to the Glaciers soon so stay tuned!
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