Tuesday, August 30, 2011

20 Aug 11 - Christchurch to Punakaiki

Woke up super early cos we had to catch a bus at 0730hrs.

We had checked with the Super shuttle van the day before and they told us they could bring us from Jailhouse to the bus stop outside Westfield Mall (just b4 Mcdonalds) Riccarton Road at 0650hrs. Initially, we intended to walk to the bus stop but it was quite far and should be cold to walk on a winter morning. Actually most of the hostel room, transport, activities, we could book on spot if it was not peak season.

↓ Interested in getting jailhouse jacket or t shirt?


 ↓ While waiting for Jailhouse warden to attend to us.


Checked out from Jailhouse, as I mentioned, there was no one mending the counter, we had to press on the bell to wake the "Jailhouse warden" up. A sleepy lady greeted us after sometime, we paid the balance and left the place. The Super shuttle van was already waiting for us. Nice lady driver even offered to take a photo of us.

↓ Us in front of Jailhouse.



Reached the bus stop, we bought Mac Donald's breakfast set at NZ 5.50, "Kiwi Brekkie Mac Muffin" set. Crispy bacon, golden egg, potato rosti, tomato relish, cheese, sausage, BBQ sauce. The muffin tasted very nice! Love the sauce especially!


Board the bus. The bus did not stop at the bus stop. It stopped at the carpark behind the bus stop and in front of Mac Donald. We had to keep a look out for it. Lucky, I saw the people suddenly walked to the carpark, and the "Atomic" bus was there. Need not print out the booking confirmation or details cos our names were in their list. The bus driver will check with us.

The bus driver will intro about New Zealand while he was driving. We did a toilet stop at Arthurs Pass before continued our journey to Greymouth.




We stopped at Greymouth I site which was also near the railway station. Most of the buses stopped there to pick up or drop off passenger. Went to "Countdown" supermarket for tibits and drinks before our next bus ride at 1330hrs.

↓ Taken at Greymouth Raiway Station



↓ Wore thick winter wear cos of the night before, too cold..


Board "Intercity" bus outside Greymouth I site and brought us to Punakaiki West Coast Cafe. It was actually beside Punakaiki I site. The lady at the I site was very nice to allow us to park our bags with them while we walked to "Pancake Rocks & Blowholes". It was just opposite the I site.

↓ Her Lunch, Big muffin with butter


↓ My Lunch, Double scoop Ice Cream!


It was said that walking thru the park need around 20 mins, 1.1 km Loop. Hmm, estimated with fast pace. I think that people in New Zealand loves tracking and they walk at fast pace. Ok, also cos we need time for photos? That was not included in the estimation.












↓ Punakaiki is just about "Rocks formation"












↓ Cabbage Tree..


↓ Taken on the way to hostel.



↓ NZ people was really nice, there was one lady who told me there was a "wood pigeon" on the trees, asking me to shoot it while I was passing time as well as walking to the hostel.








Walking to our hostel was a torture to me! Chong had checked with I site on how to walk to "Punakaiki Beach Resort". The i site lady told us the correct direction, however, we were not staying at "Punakaiki Beach Resort"! Our hostel name was "Punakaiki Beach Hostel"! Punakaiki Beach Resort was to the left of I site and the hostel was to the right! It was already far to walk to the resort and we had to walk back to I site and walked to our hostel which was far from the I site too!

↓ Finally reached our hostel...



↓ We were outside the kitchen actually.




↓ Love this background, but most pictures of me were blurred =(
How I wished mum was here!





↓ Again NZ people was nice. Took this outside some house and the lady told me that this flower opened its petal only in the morning.



First thing we checked in our room was the heater. We did not want to be cold at night again and they had it! Another thing was, the counter staff was good, he charged us BHH member price! ie, NZ 3 less! We got bigger room this time too. 1 double bed and 1 single bed. The bathroom were still shared but at least it was single and next to our room. This hostel was not bad, beside the beach with nice scenary too!

We were give room number 4 and the counter staff actually said Chinese believes 4 is bad luck and asked if we were ok with it.

Guess what we had for dinner? They actually sold instant noodle and best, egg! Chicken Instant noodle, NZ 0.80, Egg, NZ 0.60. Well, I did not like to cook especially when we had to share kitchen with others. Hmm..ok, one of the gal cooked beef instant noodle, she had been reading the whole packet for long. Then, she would pour everything in when the water was not boiled. Anyway, I cooked like that too! =P

There was this not so old couple, and the guy actually asked where I came from. Hmm..Not sure whether we appeared to be unfriendly? cos actually, I wanted to talk more but did not. I don't mind making friends.

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Super shuttle from Jailhouse accomodation (0650hrs) - Bus stop outside Westfield Mall (just b4 Mcdonalds) Riccarton Road (0710hrs), SGD 8.69

http://www.supershuttle.co.nz/Default.aspx

Atomic Bus from Bus stop outside Westfield Mall (just b4 Mcdonalds) Riccarton Road (0730hrs) - Greymouth I site (Greymouth Railway Station) (1130hrs), SGD 36.28
http://www.atomictravel.co.nz/pickupdropoff.aspx

Intercity Bus from Greymouth I site (Greymouth Railway Station) (1345hrs) - Intercity bus stop (Punakaiki Wild Coast Café) (1415hrs), SGD 11.40

http://www.intercity.co.nz/

Attractions: Pancake Rocks & Blowholes, Opposite Punakaiki I site (Free)

Accomodation: Punakaiki Beach Hostel, SGD 31.36
http://www.punakaikibeachhostel.co.nz/info.htm
(Step out of I site door, turn right and walk straight along the road, will see sign of hostel when reaching)

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I cannot say the label for this post is under "photography" cos, I really don't know what I am taking except for portrait. Yes, I was using 35mm lens. Thought of taking nice portrait. Food and Jailhouse photos taken with Canon s90.