Having been driven from Rotoroa by the sandflies we drove towards the west coast following the Buller River, stopping at a scenic spot for breakfast where the Buller is joined by the Blackwater River, we then headed into the town of Westport where we went for a swim to get a good value shower and did shop refuelling.

We then headed out to Cape Foulwind where we had a little walk out along the cliff tops and clambered out for a lovely little lie down in the sun. We then drove around to a spot further down the coast where a seal colony is and watched the big males chasing each other round as they prepare for the mating season. A little cup of tea and a scone with Muriel before we set off along the West Coast road, it's a much vaunted drive with mountains on one side and seas on the other which we were looking forward to.