Road tripping New Zealand, South Island between’ Marlborough and the West Coast.

We’re road-tripping in New Zealand and had no idea where we’d be when my birthday rolled around.

Buller Canyon, New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge.

My birthday’s tomorrow. 

Couple crazies crossing the Buller’s Gorge another way.

Buller River, below the suspension bridge.

Wayne’s promised for over a year, last birthday (in Bocas del Toro) and our anniversary (in March — we were on a non-stop 32-day passage between Galapagos and the French Marquesas) that we’d celebrate with a nice dinner out, clean white sheets, queen-sized bed, and endless showers.

New Zealand’s misty “summer” coastline inspired the 1st “motel” room in a year (for my birthday).

Today, given a forecast of 50-60 degree damp, misty “summer” temperatures and viciously fast, biting swarms of West Coast black sand flies, it was time.

Even with mediocre weather, Pancake Rocks was still pretty cool.

Beach at Pancake Rocks, New Zealand’s South Island West Coast.

“Any place you want, for your birthday, darlin'” Wayne said, “under $150 NZ.”  That would be $100 USD these days.

As we entered Greymouth, at the end of a long road trip, with another planned for tomorrow, “where’– as U2 says — t’he streets have no names” (at least the ones we were looking for listed in our guide book for lodgings) . The hotels we stopped at either weren’t hotels are weren’t going concerns.  We settled for the first place we stopped at that looked like was in business, the vibrantly purple and orange colored Duke Hostel.

Hawk’s Craig overhang on Highway 6, bound for New Zealand’s West Coast.

“Look, honey, it’s a deluxe hostel!” Wayne exclaimed.  Uhhh, that’s Duke, I pointed out. Deluxe.  Duke,  Deluxe.  Duke.  I was right.

Hawk’s Craig, Buller River, New Zealand’s scenic Highway 6.

Duke Hostel, Greymouth, New Zealand,’s West Coast of South Island,  pilfered from their website.

Still, for $79 NZ (about $50 USD) we do have clean white sheets, a queen-sized bed, without a private bath, that at least means Wayne would look unseemly pounding on the door to the women’s showers.  Of course, in a hostel, long showers are not usually practical anyway.  Still, as Meatloaf croons, “two out of three ain’t bad,” and whilst I write this, we’re using free and speedy wifi, listening to a great local rock station. 

We’re pleasantly full after eating some yummy gluten-free pasta with tomato garlic-wine sauce with added kalamata olives and onions, that I cooked in the hostel’s super-efficient kitchen.  

While most folks dream of sailing, we are thrilled any time we’re off the boat and can enjoy more than 18″ at the foot of the bed.  The rest is a bonus.

Our room tonight at Duke’s Hostel, Greymouth New Zealand.

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Cruising by the Numbers