A quiet and peaceful start to the day. I drank coffee and read my book. Rowan got up and wished me a happy birthday. Yes today I am 34! Just another day I said, no need to make a big deal. Jenna was to head west via Arthur’s Pass. We make a detour to PB tech to get a new phone for me. We also stop at Torpedo7 to send off my hiking boots to be fixed. Heading west we stop in Sheffield for a pie for lunch. When we reach the mountains there has been snow and it is truly beautiful.

Castle Hill has had some upgrades with a spot to picnic under now. Our main mission for today is to get Jenna up and close with a Kea. We get to the first spot we regularly see them and none are there. I think it is worth waiting for a bit and sure enough, one shows up, then another two. Jenna is really happy as now she has a lot of photos of them.

We make it to Kumara and Rowan would like to fossick the Serpentine Beach. I bail out after a bit and head back to the car. I call back my mum and the sun starts to set. By this time I am getting past being hungry. The sunset is stunning.

The sun has gone by the time they get back, we better head to the campground and set up. It is dark but we easily set up. Then we head off for food. Not much available in greymouth at this time with pizza or McDonald’s as our only options. McDonald’s wins. I haven’t had a McDonald’s birthday party since I was 8. They didn’t give me a paper hat… sad lol