North to Karamea and back

Today we drove North to Karamea through some very beautiful scenery. It is the furtherest north you can drive on the west coast of the South Island and the end of the road is the start of the Heaphy Track, a 4 day walk which comes out near Collingwood.















On our way back we stopped at the processing plant for the Stockton Coal mine, and had a look from the outside.














The coal comes in the 'buckets' on the gondola type things from the Stockton Mine which is away up in the hills.














The beach was on the opposite side of the road and was just beautiful. Mostly flat stones upshore and then grey sand at the waters edge. Except in the photo below where there was a rocky outcrop and this Herron was looking for wee fish.




























Toby, Al, Thomas and Katie watching the sun set!