Greymouth Day Trip                                                           January 17, 2000

pancake rocks&sea.jpg (132452 bytes) Forty minutes north of Greymouth is Paparoa National Park, where the Pancake Rocks are a featured attraction. pancake rocks.jpg (159128 bytes)The name derives from the fact that the rocks look like stacks and stacks of pancakes.  

These limestone layers were formed millions of years ago under the sea, but no one knows exactly how .  Over time they've been uplifted and eroded to their present shape.  There’s a blowhole between d&w at pancake.JPG (152666 bytes) the rocks where water sprouts up at high tide, but alas, the tide was out.  

Nonetheless, it was a warm sunny afternoon, so we enjoyed the drive along the coast as well as the unusual formations.  Here's a photo showing we were actually there.

trees& yellow weeds.jpg (173885 bytes)We also encountered interesting scenery along the drive, including these trees with the yellow weeds underneath.  There were also beaches, both sandy or rocky, to wander over.  This area is known for its greenstone, a favorite type of rock traded by the early Maoris.  There are beautiful stones to be found on the beaches, but we decided one can't travel around the world carrying a bunch of rocks! 

 

 

Home