Day #13 Dunedin to Ivercargill

We departed our motel in Dunedin in search of petrol and the Southern Scenic Route. We were advised that this route would hug the coast as much as possible on our journey to Invercargill. A few missed turns and backtracking allowed us to get some fuel and hop onto the Southern Scenic Route.

Our first stop was at Kaka Point, both a town and a point.

Kaka Point

a house at Kaka Point

Kaka Point

We moved on to Nugget Point a traditional meeting place for Māori. Today, there is an unmanned lighthouse and a footpath requiring attention when walking. The warning "Mind your children, no guard railing".

no railing - beware

lighthouse Nugget Point

Nugget Point

Nugget Point

We pulled over in Pounawea for a bit of lunch and another wonderful view of the ocean. A shepherd (actually 2 shepherds) and his dog were moving several hundred sheep to another pasture. The dog and a small pick-up truck was all that they needed. Well they needed about 30 minutes to move them past our lunch spot.

Pounawea beach

moving the sheep

moving the sheep

Next was Curio Bay where a massive number of fallen trees became petrified after a volcanic event many years ago. Some of the petrified trees are clearly trees, no imagination needed. It is only visible at low tide. We were lucky to be there at low tide.

low tide at Curio Bay

low tide at Curio Bay

Our last stop before Invercargill was Slope Point. Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. It is near the settlement of Waikawa, near the southwestern edge of the Catlins and Toetoes Bay.

Slope Point

Slope Point Equator 5140 km/South Pole 4803 km

posing at Slope Point

Slope Point

Slope Point

After that visit we made our way over the last 70 or so kilometers to Invercargill. We were to rest our heads at the Balmoral Motel which is said to be one of Queen Elizabeth's favorites, not.

Tomorrow, Valentines Day, we fly over to Stewart Island for a couple of days.