So we left Moteuka and retraced our steps to Richmond and drove southerly until we reached Murchison. A good coffee stop with more ginger shortbread.
We drove through Buller Gorge which was amazing. The river was very blue. We stopped at the Buller Gorge swing bridge, the longest swing bridge in New Zealand. Heather and Ray crossed with no hesitation. John had no intention of crossing and I dithered, started and went back. Then a guy encouraged me to cross and stopped anyone else starting once I was on the bridge and I did it. Not much on the other side and Ray was stung by a wasp or bee and we recrossed. I did it!
We drove on to Lyell, another stop to visit the cemetery, all that was left of the gold mining town from 1870-1900.
We then drove through the Lower Buller Gorge, amazing scenery again and the road hugged the cliff, at Hawks Crag there was a large overhang over the road.
We stopped at Westport but this was very quiet as it was Sunday and in fact nothing was opening until Thursday as Monday was Buller Day, Wednesday was a National Bank Holiday and they were not going to open on Tuesday.
Drove down the coast, stunning, culminating in the pancake rocks at Punakaiki. These were stunning and we even saw the blow hole blow.
Camped up at Greymouth, walked on the beach and prepared for another exciting day.