The Catlins - A backroad to Invercargill
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2003
1
22
29
Trip End
Ongoing
Loading Map
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
Invercargill,
New Zealand
Friday, July 27, 2007
Dunedin to Owaka in the Catlins is 115km and from Owaka to Invercargill is
130km.
Going south on Route 1 you will go through Waihola (25km). on the left is Lake
Waihola. Next is Milton(17km). A turn off west on Route 8 to the very interesting town
of Lawrence.(33km) If you got the time a side trip is worth it especially a trip to Gabriels'
Gully where you are welcome to stay the night. This was where gold was first found in
New Zealand.
On south on Route One to Balclutha where the Clutha River passes through on its last leg
to the sea. If going to take the turnoff to the Catlins be sure to get fuel and stock up here.
(Good butcher on the right leaving town by the way). Can't miss the turnoff on the left
leaving the town of Balclutha. You can continue on Route One to Invercargill at this
point if time is not in your favour but I must say missing the Catlins you are missing one
of the most untraveled parts of New Zealand. it is 38km to the town of Owaka.
Be prepared to stay the night somewhere. The Holiday park recommended is the
Nwhaven Holiday Park Surat Bay, Owaka. ,www.newhavenholiday.com, home to many
seals, sea lions and native birds. Mostly sealed roads now as of 2005 in the Catlins with
golden sand beaches and long stretches of isolation.
It is 25km from Owaka to Papatowai on Tahakopa Bay. The road now winds through the
Catlins Forest Park where you can find any number of places to overnight. If you want to
stay the night at a fabulous B&B go to the Waikava Harbour View in south Catlins at
Waikawa. (www.southcatlins.co.nz).
One of the musts is a stop at Curio Bay to see the petrified forst on the low tide. Millions
of years in the making.
The best cafe in the Catlins is the Niagara Falls Cafe outside the community of Niagara.
From there on your trip can take a number of roads out of the Catlins. We usually
continue on to Tokanui(28km)after a visit to Waikawa first just south of Niagara. From
Tokanui it is back to meeting up with Route One at Edendale or Woodville or Invercargill
depending on the roads you take. It's up to you. Not much difference.
So here we are in the great Southland town of Invercargill run by our one and only Mayor
Tim Shadbolt one of New Zealand's finest.
