It’s been no secret how a lot I really like New Zealand’s West Coast.
Ever since my first talk over with in 2013, I’ve been enamored with this quiet but tough nook of New Zealand. The least populated area, the West Coast, stretched nearly all of the period of the South Island. House to special mountains, atypical birds, historical forests, and no other folks, it couldn’t be extra very best, particularly for introverts like me.
However nowhere captures my middle greater than the stretch of sea coast from Greymouth to Westport, particularly round Punakaiki. It’s a spot that vacationers talk over with however no longer as many as different spots at the South Island with extra dramatic vistas. This a part of the West Coast is all about slowing down, taking it simple, and taking part in being in nature.
You’ll be able to’t rush right here; it’s a spot that conjures up mindfulness and rest. I come right here at least one time a 12 months to move off the grid, chill out, and reset, and I continuously arise right here to write down. This previous wintry weather, I spent nearly per week on the Best possible Stranger’s Bach on a West Coast getaway, which used to be magical.
There’s something so nostalgic about being by means of the ocean. I continuously ponder whether it speaks to a couple historical a part of our manufacturers; are we tapping into one thing we inherently crave however can’t vocalize? Why? I feel so. Are you able to relate?
One in all my favourite issues about this a part of the West Coast is that it’s filled with hideaways and previous baches (vintage kiwi vacation houses) hidden among the flax timber beside the ocean. With its dense rainforests, you continuously don’t even know they’re there. Over time, I’ve stayed in a lot of them, loving all of them. Each and every and everybody has an epic tale and make for an unforgettable West Coast getaway.
Possibly I really like this space as it does really feel like a special decade. With little telephone reception to being beautiful far off, many baches have instructions like “2.3 kilometers previous the bridge by means of the third-mile signal, and if you happen to come to the large bay, you’ve long gone too a ways.”
A long way out, I really like that.
This time I spent 5 days on the Best possible Strangers Bach, simply north of Punakaiki.
One of the crucial OG baches of its time, it’s tucked away proper concerning the surf. Circle of relatives-owned for many years, discerning readers would possibly acknowledge the title from the 2003 kiwi movie Best possible Strangers, a lot of which used to be shot right here. Agree with me; it’s much more tranquil in actual existence.
Welcome to my glad position! I’ve pushed by means of this spot such a lot of instances, however except you realize it’s right here, you’ll leave out it. It’s so far off that you just park along State Freeway 6 and wander all the way down to it. There’s no longer numerous site visitors on this a part of the rustic.
Weka no doubt outnumber the locals right here, accurately.
A secret I spill so continuously it will probably’t in reality be known as a secret anymore is that I feel New Zealand’s West Coast is perfect skilled in wintry weather, Punakiki particularly.
From Fiordland as much as Golden Bay, the winds die down within the wintertime, and the ocean turns into calm. The clouds disappear, and also you continuously get gorgeous bluebird nonetheless, transparent and heat days. As it’s this sort of wild position, other folks have a tendency to assume that wintry weather should be the worst climate, once I’ve discovered the other to be true. Giant storms are available in summer time.
And when you stand up to Punakaiki and extra north, it sits in a wee trans-Tasman microclimate that brings heat, humid air. That’s why you get such a lot of tropical local fingers and nikau right here. You’ll be able to even develop fruit that differently it’s essential best develop a ways north at the North Island.
The locals will most likely homicide me for sharing this, however I will’t assist it.
However by means of a ways, the most productive a part of staying on the Best possible Stranger’s Bach on a West Coast getaway is that you’ve your personal personal seashore.
There aren’t any cabanas or coconuts right here, but it surely gives one of the sea coast’s perfect perspectives. You might have a sandy seashore plus rockpools to discover – at all times test the tide instances; low is perfect. And there’s an impressive quantity of mussels to forage alongside the sea coast. Is there anything else higher than white wine linguini with mussels you stuck your self? Nope, there isn’t.
Simply scripting this has made me so nostalgic for this fantastic position. To go to sleep to waves crashing alongside the seashore and local birdsong within the air is little short of magical.
The place’s your haven? Do you could have a favourite position by means of the ocean that calls to you? Proportion!
Many due to Best possible Strangers for website hosting me at the West Coast – like at all times, I’m retaining it actual – as it’s essential be expecting much less from me!
