From Wanaka to the Catlins

We reached Clyde, an old gold mining town and current center of country music, passing a landscape of lakes. Accompanied by cows and sheep, we took a break in Balclutha. Interested in culinary highlights, we ordered a so-called 'French Toast'. (For gourmets, the recipe: take 2 slices of softest toast bread, fry it in butter and dip it in maple syrup until saturated, then fry bacon and then a banana in the bacon fat. Place bacon and banana between the toast bread and season with maple syrup.)

Well fortified, we then walked through the forest to the Purakaunui Falls.

In the late afternoon, we reached Surat Bay and to our delight, we unexpectedly got a lodge at the Newhaven campground for 2 days. Beautiful beach with birds and very relaxed seals. I immediately inquired about the high-tide, it was at 8 o'clock in the morning; under the gaze of the camping site operator, I went to the beach in swimming trunks at 8 o'clock and had to reluctantly step into the icy water; I managed to withstand it for about 10 minutes without having a heart attack.

Hp came back very quickly from swimming and took a very long hot shower. We enjoyed a very nice atmosphere with open-minded people at Newhaven. The evening didn't go so well, first we burned the potatoes and then with the hot pot the table. A complete success.

The next day, we visited Nugget Point in the evening and had a great fish plate at Kaka Point.

Departure on the next morning to the Purakanui Falls and then to Curio Bay, where we actually wanted to stay, but a confusion of phone numbers led us to a sheep farm 4 km north of Slope Point. Very quiet, nice dogs, hardly any traffic, 2,000 sheep, 400 cows, robust farmer who races around the area with her Honda four-wheeler. A place to stay!

A real compromise!!!! Every excursion a lot of driving. 70 km curved country road to Invercargill for refueling and shopping. However, on the way back, we could also visit the Waipapa Lighthouse. Two birds with one stone in 70 km. In Curio Bay, 15 km away, we ate and waited for the penguins with many others. One finally came shortly before 9 pm. Unfortunately, we didn't have a telephoto lens.

Only the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand was really close.