Waikava Harbour View South Island

... on the beach left there by the warrior Te Rauparaha. Owaka is the beginning of the southeastern coastal region called the Catlins which is along a roadway known as the “Southern Scenic Route.” This area is noted for rolling hills, rugged coastlines, beautiful beaches, and old forests. We stopped at a town called Kaka Point and hiked out to the lighthouse at Nugget Point. We saw seals and sea lions there. Then we walked to three ...

We finally left the marvels of the Mountainous regions behind and headed down to the Southern Coast to a stretch known as the Catlins. By, it was cold with the wind whipping off the Southern Oceans..next stop Antartica!

On the drive down to Curio Bay we stopped of at a little place called Monkey Island where we ate lunch and messed about on ...

Pounawea in the Katlins was our next stop. The motor camp was in a lovely picturesque spot, and after rejecting the cheapest accommodation, which was unfortunately in terrace between two family cabins with paper thin walls, we selected a cabin that overlooked the water. The view could in fact only be enjoyed by standing on the bed and peering out of the tiny window, but the cabin was clean and comfy and i was just happy to be sitting somewhere other than a car. That evening we ...

Caitlins - From Milford Sound all the way round the south of the island, past the bluff (tourist most southerly point), Invercargill and on to the beautiful Caitlins and full 48hrs of torrential rain - wicked!! Beautiful coastline, waterfalls and wildlife to explore.

... road. Our first stop was at the impressive Nugget Point, and from there we slowly followed the Southern Scenic Route, making frequent stops and detours towards the coast, it is a really nice drive with wonderful views and several waterfalls, lakes, and other interesting sites, and we stopped at Curio Bay for the night. Before we checked in at the caravan park at Curio Bay, we went to check out the petrified forest (the fossilised remains of a Jurassic ...

... thats just ****'. So fighting fatigue we cycled on to Curio Bay where we camped in a somewhat tied campsite amongst the flax (long grass). After visiting a petrified forest we sat in the tent and it was raining. I was suddenly overcome with energy, after a moments thought I got up "I'm going swimming in the sea" I told Hannah. (Curio bay is a safe swimming beach). "Why? You'll freeze" Hannah asked, usually the first to ...

... of houses Having spotted a vacancy sign at the end of a gravel road, running alongside the estuary, we decide to explore further. Part way down this road we came across a block of 4 modern studio apartments. We went up the drive and noticing that one was occupied we asked the occupants what one had to do to rent a room for the night. Our attention was drawn to a notice board and a phone. There were apparently two vacant apartments, both of which had the ...

... were up to proper levels. Janice has discovered Christmas-shaped pretzels which has put her in the seasonal mood. We also buy a basin plug as I had managed to throw ours out on day 1. Then we head south on the Southern Scenic Route, following the coast on a winding road. We stop for a paddle on Brighton beach. The weather is overcast and a bit drizzly. We have lunch looking out at the sea on Kaka Point and ...

... particularly in the gloomy weather) and the towns generally offered little more than farming supplies - we were clearly getting well off the usual tourist trail. At Balclutha, we turned south into the Catlins, driving on for around 40km to Papatowai and finally stopping for the night at Florence Hill Lookout - a dramatic and windswept headland which looked down over a broad, sandy, deserted beach and the ...

... months in town and the trip came as a welcomed break. we jumped on the southern scenic route and headed out of Dunedin and towards the coast. about 20 min from town we drove through the little development of Brighton, and we saw this beach with neat rocks so we decided to stop and check it out. after snapping the first pictures of our trip, we walked to the other side of the beach to some stairs that climbed up a cliff to a lookout over the beach. as Vincent and I ...