View at Pancake Rocks (with the many pancake like horizontal ridges in the rocks) After leaving the Farewell Spit area we crossed over to Westport on the western coast of the South Island where we saw our first of 3 lighthouses during the past 2 days. The western coast is isolated from the rest of the South Island by the long ‘Southern Alps’ mountain range & the hardy people that live here are referred to as ‘coasties’. At Cape Foulwind we encountered our first on many wekas (a not-camera shy bird). Close by there we then viewed one of many of the New Zealand seal colonies where most of them were sleeping on the rocks in the sun.
Today in Paparoa National Park we saw the unique Pancake Rocks (rock formations that look like top stacks of thin pancakes). The beautiful path out to the rocks was lined with many plant species (with information about each of them). It was fascinating at high tide to watch and listen to the powerful waves crashing into the rock formations - especially in what they call the surge pool. The weather has been quite variable with rain one minute and sunshine the next. So it looks like a great day for a while and then gloomy the next.
A Weka – This is a flightless bird that can run very fast. We have seen many of these along the roadside and in parking lots. 
View of the coastline at Cape Foulwind 
Fur seal in the fur seal colony at Tauranga Bay
Nikau palm trees at Pancake Rocks 
A White-fronted tern – There were numerous ones of these perched on top of the Pancake Rocks
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