Travelling the Southern Scenic Route from Dunedin, includes driving through an area known as The Catlins, a slice of beautiful country you could describe as New Zealand, unplugged! This area represents THE rural heartland of New Zealand – stunning Bush, the most photographed waterfall in the country, and a rugged coastline:
After leaving Balclutha, the scenery changes and you’re treated to an untamed world where the locals value their personal freedoms. On this driftwood beach, a man and his horse were silhouetted against the sun. He waved at me as I took this photo.
Next stop was at kaka Point from where we travelled on gravel road towards Nugget point – a necessary pilgrimage for most visitors to The Catlins. We enjoyed the beautiful views from the Florence Hill Lookout from where Nugget Point can be seen in the far distance.
Nugget point is 23km from Kaka Point. To view the lighthouse at Nugget Point you stop at the large public carpark, park your vehicle and then walk 900m to the Lighthouse. Some of the walk is steep in places but we could see many people of different shapes, sizes and it’s so worth it, believe me!
Perhaps the highlight of this scenic spot is not the actual lighthouse, but what you see on the way up to it.
I’m a little over fur seals at the moment but international visitors are fascinated by them and they can be found along this coastline. In the meantime lunch beckons. We leave Nugget Point for the little township of Owaka, where once again we’re reminded of how much people love to collect stuff…stuff like teapots!
You can’t miss the Owaka Teapot Collection as you drive into the town and the Owaka Museum is definitely worth a visit and a donation. The latte we had in Owaka came with a weird mountain of froth on the top but it tasted good. Never judge a book by it’s cover! Re-energised, we headed off to the Purakaunui Falls, a photo of which you’ve probably seen on every book or promotion about New Zealand. Masses of pure water tumbles over 3 tiers of solid rock and it’s a beautiful sight. But first there’s a 10 min forest walk leading to it:
Why is it that people feel a compulsion to climb and conquer everything they see? Yet again, we see visitors, including New Zealanders, showing disrespect for a beautiful environment. A father encouraging his adult son to scramble up the waterfall and with each footstep scraping away 20 years growth of lichen and moss that makes this waterfall so beautiful. And he’s risking his life doing it. Shouldn’t we occasionally show some restraint and be content to quietly view nature’s handiwork?
Onwards to Cathedral Caves and because it’s located on privately-owned Maori land, there is an entrance fee of $5.00. Some Kiwis resent having to pay this fee but I guess someone has to pay for the upkeep of the road leading into the carpark. First there’s a 20 min walk through a natural podocarp and Kamahi forest that leads onto a very photogenic beach…
…where at the far end, is located the Cathedral Caves..
Inside, the caves do actually resemble a massive cathedral interior where the acoustics could be perfect for an Italian aria…and aren’t we all surprised when Michael puts this theory to the test.
There are limited accommodation options in The Catlins but just around the corner from the Cathedral Caves, we discovered a place that would suit a variety of travellers. The Whistling Frog Café and Resort may have an eccentric name but the owners have put a lot of thought into creating something unique with a lovely community feeling.
From cabins where space it limited, to fully self-contained modern cottages, plus an excellent restaurant on-site with live music.
Plenty of surprises to be found in The Catlins.
Happy Travelling.
