After the museum, I got a coffee at the Clocktower Cafe, sitting in the sun and enjoying the view. I headed to the Hokitika Sandwich Company to grab food to put aside for lunch. I wanted to try two sandwiches, so I grabbed two half sandwiches - one to eat straight away and one to have a couple hours later (a lunch and second lunch situation, if you will). They were both delicious - that bread! Afterward, I went back to my room to do my weekly catchup with the fam!

After the fam catchup, I headed out for a collection of afternoon walks. The first one was the Mananui Tramline, heading to the picnic viewpoint on Lake Mahinapua. It follows the old tramline through the forest, which they used to transport felled trees. Now, it's just a walking path.

Honestly, after I finished this walk (that was only about an hour), I wanted nothing more than to just go back and chill out again. But, I talked myself into checking out two other short walking tracks along Lake Mahinapua as well - might as well check out the different areas as I drive right by. I stopped by the Lake Mahinapua DOC campground to do the Swimmers Beach Walk and the Jum Michel Track. Then, I truly wanted to go relax - I headed back to a shower and my leftover pizza and wine to end the night!

The actual walk is an out-and-back walk to a viewpoint - it would be a loop, but the lower gorge suspension bridge is currently being replaced. I had a fantail friend that got pretty close to me at the beginning, which was lovely!

Since I was already out of town, I kept the outdoor adventure going, heading to Lake Kaniere, where there are several short walking tracks. I headed first to Dorothy Falls - which is hardly a walking track, it's practically on the road around the lake. I brought my sandwich and my chips and ate my lunch watching the falls.

Across the road was a short path over to Lake Kaniere, which I took to soak in the scenery.

After a short drive, I went to walk the Kahikatea Forest Walk. It's a short walk through a forest of Kahikatea trees, many of which had been felled across the West Coast for supplies and to clear the way for farmland. No photos here, but then it started sprinkling, so enjoy this video of rain drops on the lake!

As I drove back to Hokitika, the rain stopped and the blue skies returned, so I went for a coffee and a treat and another little walk along the mouth of the river to the sea. Then, I headed up to the Hokitika Lighthouse and a memorial for Māori who were imprisoned for resistance to illegal land confiscation by Pākehā settlers, some of whom were sent to be imprisoned in Hokitika.

After a brief rest, I headed out for dinner - getting the Mexi Pizza from Fat Pipi Pizza. It was so good! I went for a wander and to see the sunset at Sunset Point as well.

Once the sun set, I headed to the Glow Worm Dell where you can see glow worms interspersed in the greenery.

I won't describe every piece - mostly just share the photos! Unless I think there's something worth sharing!

I really liked this one below - called The Very Hungry Capitalism and every place the caterpillar touched was burnt and left a hole.

This one was called "Affordable Housing," which gave me a depressed chuckle. It had a little garden and walkway too, but I didn't like the way the photos came out.

The one below was called A Kiwi Campsite - cute kiwis!

The anteater was called "Ants not Angst" - loved that!

I also really enjoyed this one, called "Make a Wish." This one is so much more striking in person!