Hokitika

The first day we spent in the West Coast was centred on Hokitika. It was raining overnight (we could hear it on the roof of the hotel, we’re on the top floor with panoramic views over scenic Greymouth), and continued to rain as we set out to Hokitika. The west Coast is known for its rain: it’s the rainiest region in New Zealand, with some places measuring rainfall in metres rather than the more traditional millimetres.

Our first stop was the Hokitika Gorge, where we saw the spectacularly blue Hokitika river. This is due to the glacial meltwater and clay-sized rock particles in the water. It was still raining, so we decided not to do the entire one-hour loop track, but instead made it as far as the swing bridge and beach before turning back – about 15 minutes’ walk. We then headed into Hokitika town, in search of lunch. There’s not a great deal of choice so we ended up in Stumper’s Bar, where we had pub food. The rain was easing but never completely stopped throughout the day.

After lunch we went for a drive around Lake Kaniere, stopping at Dorothy Falls for some scenic pics. We then drove back the way we’d come to Greymouth, where the weather had cleared up a bit and we were able to explore the river bank a little, before going across the road to Sevenpenny, one of the few establishments in the town to catch our eye. 

Dorothy Falls

The weather forecast looks better for Sunday...