🇳🇿 New Zealand South Island’s West Coast: Greymouth & Hokitika

🗓️ Oct 5th: We set off from Christchurch to the wild West Coast, passing through Greymouth before staying overnight in Hokitika. 🚗 Christchurch → Greymouth (3hrs) Stunning landscapes! 🏔️🐑 Rolling green hills → golden alpine valleys (LOTR vibes!) → coastal blues. Passed Castle Hill, Arthur’s Pass, and Lake Pearson. 📍 Greymouth 🚂 Historic Train Station: Dropped off our TransferCar and rented a Hertz vehicle (after-hours drop-off was easy!). 🪨 Pancake Rocks (missed due to weather): 40mins north of Greymouth – famous for layered cliffs and crashing waves. No drones allowed – huge fines! 📍 Hokitika 🌌 Glow-Worm Dell: Free! Just 10m walk into the dark – blue glow worms on the walls. No flash/noise (they’re sensitive!), but we caught a lucky shot. 🏖️ Beach: Driftwood "HOKITIKA" sign + moody ocean backdrop. 💙 Hokitika Gorge (closed when we visited): Famous for turquoise waters (like Jiuzhaigou!). 🍽️ Food Fail: Stone Oven Bakery – salty bacon, rock-hard pancakes 🤢 (better off with supermarket snacks!). 🏠 Accommodation: Hokitika Beachfront – basic but cozy. #WestCoastNZ #Greymouth #Hokitika #RoadTrip #GlowWorms