Greymouth & Cave Climb

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By about 10 AM (Jan 8), after a pitstop at Starbucks (how civilized) for coffee and muffins we began our trip through to the west coast (Haast) and then up the west coast to Greymouth.

The winding, twisting, two-lane roads without shoulders continue on this stretch of our journey but the rise and fall of elevations are steeper than yesterday. Many of the roads turns require speeds of 25 km/hr. One hairpin turn required us to slow to 15 km/hr. Although the maximum speed is 100 km/hr, I think we actually average about 75 km/hr., at best, for the day.

The scenery constantly changes as a series of micro climates reveal different plant life. The highlight is Mt. Aspiring National Park, a dense rainforest so thick the forest looks like one mass of green right to the ground. Ferns fill in the bottom, then shrubs and very tall trees. There doesn’t seem to be any way to enter the forest because there are literally no openings. The mountains are covered in brilliant green vegetation right to the top and spectacular waterfalls are commonplace. The road is steep up and down and after a brief rain the mountains are shrouded in mist. The breathtaking views seem unreal, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The photographs don’t show the scale or do the brilliance of the greens justice.


The next day begins (January 9) with Jan, Jennifer and Stepehn going on Dragons Blackwater Glow-worm cave rafting in the Taniwha Caves just outside Greymouth. When they arrive at 8 AM, the owner looks Jan up and down and asks, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Why?”

“Well, looking at your shape I’m not sure you’re fit enough. It is a half hour walk to the caves. Can you walk?”

Restraining herself, being a little sarcastic Jan said, “I walk golf courses.”

“Oh, well, maybe you can do it.”

The hike is uphill through the jungle in a full body wetsuit (covers head) with big boots on a path cleared but with steps, logs and tocks 2 feet deep. By the time Jan reaches the entrance of the caves she is exhausted and dripping with sweat, her hair is absolutely soaked and dripping. The guide tells them it’s pee break time. “Boys in the jungle there, girls in the jungle there…” (See Pics)

All she could say for the next two days was, “I am trooper. I am a trooper.” Walking, bending, moving, even breathing was difficult.