2.12.2017: Oasis of well-being in the middle of nowhere

Perhaps I was a bit too generous with my buffer days, as we haven't taken a single one yet. Time to slow down, especially since I'm behind on the blog. But more on that later.

From Dunedin, we scrub kilometers until we reach the parking lot of Nugget Point at scorching 26 degrees. From here, a short walk leads to a rocky promontory, at the end of which stands a lighthouse. The walls fall steeply on the left and right, and in the azure blue sea, large rock formations rise like nuggets from the water.

On the way to the Purakaunui Falls, we take the short Tunnel Hill Track, which leads to a tunnel built in the late 19th century, about 270 meters long.

After 15 minutes, we're back at the car again and head to the Purakaunui Falls. By now, there's a food truck at the visitor parking lot selling snacks as well as hot and cold drinks. Although the noise of the running generator disturbs the idyll somewhat, the young saleswoman can definitely not complain about low sales. Today, the tiered waterfalls seem to have less water, maybe it hasn't rained for a while. Nevertheless, they are beautiful to look at. On the way back, we squeeze past a tow truck. A small camper van has gone off the unpaved road and crashed into the ditch. A holiday experience that everyone can definitely do without.

We follow the course of the Southern Scenic Route and reach the lodge where we have checked in for one night around 3 PM. We owe this to the owner of another accommodation who no longer rents out backpacker rooms and has inquired about the vacant lodge for us. It is surrounded by a large garden, accommodates 8 overnight guests, and we have the entire house, including three bathrooms, all to ourselves. We immediately feel comfortable, so after just 5 minutes of exploring, I pick up the phone and extend our stay for another night. The property will change owners in January 2018 and will no longer accommodate guests - a shame, really. A wonderful spot on earth to simply let your soul dangle. We are so enthusiastic that everyone can even imagine spending their retirement here. We spend the afternoon on the terrace and the comfortable couch in the lounge, where I finally find time to dedicate myself to my blog.