I’m currently visiting Vancouver, Canada, and nearby is Point Grey, named for (18th C) Captain George Grey. Greymouth in New Zealand was also named for a George Grey, but Sir George Grey lived in the 19th Century and was twice Governor of New Zealand. It was this odd synchronicity between where I am physically and where I was visiting virtually that has sent our New Zealand meanderings down to this town on the west coast of the South Island.
Greymouth is located at the mouth of the Grey River, logically. Even ‘back in the day’, we used Greymouth as the stepping off point for trips such as the one 40 kilometres north to Punakaiki (Poo-na-ka-i-kick), pancake rocks, a stunning group of rock formations that really look like pancakes piled high; and 10 kilometres to the south to Shantytown, a quirky outdoor museum, which offers the enticement of panning for gold along with a glimpse into life in the area a century ago.
There is a lot more information to be found:
Greymouth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greymouth
Punakaiki and blow holes: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/paparoa-national-park/
Shantytown: http://www.shantytown.co.nz/
The haiku:
Greymouth
Punakaiki,
Greymouth and Shantytown tours –
An enticing mix.
Caenys Kerr, Author 