It's one of New Zealand's iconic scenes, enormous sea stacks just off shore, caves, arches, pools, seals, seascapes, and all the rest. We visited in 2014, but wanted to do it again. Low-tide was at 6:17PM, which, together with changing weather, made for a short visit. But we did it, arriving at Puponga around 5:30 and getting suited-up and on the trail shortly thereafter.
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| Iconic especially if you use this Windows wallpaper; we do |
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Access is via the Puponga Farm, guarded by numerous sheep and
cattle (not pictured) |
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When we were there in 2014, there was a gale blowing in from Cook
Strait, and we were sand-blasted for 20 minutes crossing the dunes;
so this year we donned our rain-suits; of course, the dunes and beach
turned out to be relatively calm this day |
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| Crossing the dunes |
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Now, we have uncharacteristically divided forces, I exploring
a nearer, larger cave, Vicki exploring on the other side of the stack |
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I encountered this yearling seal, and, from a respectful distance,
video'd his long walk down to the sea; to be posted on my YouTube
channel some day |
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| Vicki exploring a big spooky cave on the other side |
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| Ceiling |
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| More spooky caves, some too wet for us to explore |
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The surf, in the 10-15 foot range, not that far
away |
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| Ever more caves |
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| Looking back at the dunes |
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| Fearless low-tide marine spelunker |
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We are at the south end of the beach, now walking north toward
the big stacks (or maybe it was north walking south...); note gathering
storm |
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For the couple hours we were on the sizeable beach we saw only two
other parties |
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| Looking back to the area we have come from |
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| Mr./Ms. Seal continues his/her walk |
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| The scene begins to unfold |
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| The great arches appear |
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| Iconic even as the storm approaches |
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| I'm going to make this my new wallpaper |
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| We viewed a few more caves |
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| And arches |
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| And caves |
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And then headed back to the holiday park...one of NZ's more remote ones, but welcome nonetheless |
