Wonderful drive today on the Southern Scenic Route through The Catlins. It's the really long route between Dunedin and Invercargill (what's with all the Scottish names?!?!) --- well worth the drive.
First stop was at Nugget Point -- nice walk out to the lighthouse -- beautiful rugged coastline. Second stop was at Purakaunui Falls -- easy walk through the forest to the falls -- quite beautiful -- and very serene -- running water and birds -- that's all you hear. Third stop was at Curio Bay -- petrified forest and penguins! Ok -- just 1 penguin. I was lucky to see it -- usually they are at sea during the day -- but it's the end of molting season --- and they stay onshore while they molt. I did get to see the penguin waddling around -- but too slow with the camera. It was a Hoiho (yellow-eyed) penguin -- only found in NZ and it's one of the rarest penguins --- it's also the 4th largest of the worlds' penguins. And then off to Bluff (the oldest European town in NZ) -- which is considered the southernmost point of mainland NZ (so similar signpost as I saw Cape Reinga -- the northernmost point). After that I headed to my motel and called it a day.
Lots of good bird viewing throughout the day -- the ones I could identify were the black swan and the royal spoonbill. The black swan was native to NZ -- but was hunted to extinction by the mid-1800s. It was reintroduced in the late 1800s -- and is now considered native. The royal spoonbill is a beautiful bird -- rather enjoyed watching them feed.
And lots of sheep. It's amazing how many sheep there are in NZ. (interestingly also saw deer farms & water buffalo)
Stopped in Niagara Falls for lunch (really!). Very cute place -- and good food -- had a lamb burger that was very tasty.
Tomorrow I go inland for a couple of days (Te Anau, Queenstown) -- so no more ocean shots for awhile.
Weather: hazy clouds with peeks of sun, 50 - 65F
Miles Walked: 5
km Driven: 374.4
First stop was at Nugget Point -- nice walk out to the lighthouse -- beautiful rugged coastline. Second stop was at Purakaunui Falls -- easy walk through the forest to the falls -- quite beautiful -- and very serene -- running water and birds -- that's all you hear. Third stop was at Curio Bay -- petrified forest and penguins! Ok -- just 1 penguin. I was lucky to see it -- usually they are at sea during the day -- but it's the end of molting season --- and they stay onshore while they molt. I did get to see the penguin waddling around -- but too slow with the camera. It was a Hoiho (yellow-eyed) penguin -- only found in NZ and it's one of the rarest penguins --- it's also the 4th largest of the worlds' penguins. And then off to Bluff (the oldest European town in NZ) -- which is considered the southernmost point of mainland NZ (so similar signpost as I saw Cape Reinga -- the northernmost point). After that I headed to my motel and called it a day.
Lots of good bird viewing throughout the day -- the ones I could identify were the black swan and the royal spoonbill. The black swan was native to NZ -- but was hunted to extinction by the mid-1800s. It was reintroduced in the late 1800s -- and is now considered native. The royal spoonbill is a beautiful bird -- rather enjoyed watching them feed.
And lots of sheep. It's amazing how many sheep there are in NZ. (interestingly also saw deer farms & water buffalo)
Stopped in Niagara Falls for lunch (really!). Very cute place -- and good food -- had a lamb burger that was very tasty.
Tomorrow I go inland for a couple of days (Te Anau, Queenstown) -- so no more ocean shots for awhile.
Weather: hazy clouds with peeks of sun, 50 - 65F
Miles Walked: 5
km Driven: 374.4
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