Seabear
Veteran Member
South Island journey - 4. Cape Foulwind and Pancake Rocks
This is the fourth of a series from my 10 weeks of wandering round New Zealand's south island February to May 2007. Going south from Westport the coast changes from rocky volcanic cliffs and islets to limestone. There is a simple map at the end of the post.
Its already 6 weeks ago, I am back in Auckland, I am glum, it is winter, it is raining and there is work to be done on the house – I want to be back doing the SI trip.
I drove south from Westport and spent the night at Cape Foulwind which is good but not as dramatic as its name. I had put the H5 onto VGA to record a park sign so I could remember where the photos had been taken and then forgot and spent half an hour taking shots of a wonderful sunset with the camera still taking tiny VGA pictures. Ouch!
The next bay south. I love reflections in wet sand.
Typical rocky point, caught at sunset with the reddish qualities of the rock accentuated.
Finally I drove down to the pancake rocks or Punakaiki. Here there is a large headland made of limestone with layers of siltstone between them and this shows as the rock erode, giving the stack of pancakes look that names the place. Note the lurking rain on the horizon, after 40 minutes I was running back to the van with my body hunched over my camera as heavy rain began. This gives a feel for the place, access is easy, there are well made paths winding through the area.
I was looking in the inevitable tourist store and wondering why the photos were so disappointing and realized that photographers taking shots for cards and calendars are required to keep to the whole scene so that the casual viewer feels connected to the iconic aspect of the destination. I would hate that limit.
I love the detail
Back from the coast I had a day trekking up a river valley cut into limestone hills. I went up one valley, up and over a ridge and back to the coast along another river. Limestone and flowing water? I indulged in reflection shots.
Part 5 soon
Dan
To find this area on the map look about for Westport near the top of the west coast and go a little bit further south, the first point is Cape Foulwind and Punakaiki is just a little further south.
Previous South Island Journey threads
Part 1. Kaikoura
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23383830
Part 2. Nelson Lakes
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23448512
Part 3. Karamea northwards
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23510864
This is the fourth of a series from my 10 weeks of wandering round New Zealand's south island February to May 2007. Going south from Westport the coast changes from rocky volcanic cliffs and islets to limestone. There is a simple map at the end of the post.
Its already 6 weeks ago, I am back in Auckland, I am glum, it is winter, it is raining and there is work to be done on the house – I want to be back doing the SI trip.
I drove south from Westport and spent the night at Cape Foulwind which is good but not as dramatic as its name. I had put the H5 onto VGA to record a park sign so I could remember where the photos had been taken and then forgot and spent half an hour taking shots of a wonderful sunset with the camera still taking tiny VGA pictures. Ouch!
The next bay south. I love reflections in wet sand.
Typical rocky point, caught at sunset with the reddish qualities of the rock accentuated.
Finally I drove down to the pancake rocks or Punakaiki. Here there is a large headland made of limestone with layers of siltstone between them and this shows as the rock erode, giving the stack of pancakes look that names the place. Note the lurking rain on the horizon, after 40 minutes I was running back to the van with my body hunched over my camera as heavy rain began. This gives a feel for the place, access is easy, there are well made paths winding through the area.
I was looking in the inevitable tourist store and wondering why the photos were so disappointing and realized that photographers taking shots for cards and calendars are required to keep to the whole scene so that the casual viewer feels connected to the iconic aspect of the destination. I would hate that limit.
I love the detail
Back from the coast I had a day trekking up a river valley cut into limestone hills. I went up one valley, up and over a ridge and back to the coast along another river. Limestone and flowing water? I indulged in reflection shots.
Part 5 soon
Dan
To find this area on the map look about for Westport near the top of the west coast and go a little bit further south, the first point is Cape Foulwind and Punakaiki is just a little further south.
Previous South Island Journey threads
Part 1. Kaikoura
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23383830
Part 2. Nelson Lakes
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23448512
Part 3. Karamea northwards
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=23510864
