nzflag(1).gif (9615 bytes)        S/V TETHYS

Touring New Zealand by Car
December 2000, February, March 2001
The Catlins Scenic Coast
The Catlins Coast between Dunedin and Invercargill is a wild scenic seashore with many headlands. bays, and coves. The Nuggets is one headland named after the rocks poking out of the water under the lighthouse that resemble nuggets. A path from the parking lot follows the crest of a ridge that drops away steeply on both sides. The crash of the seas against the rocks below and the cries of the sea birds flying above enhance the beauty of the scenery. Nuggets view (7233 bytes)
Yellow Eyed penguin preening (4636 bytes) Looking down from the ridge we spotted a yellow eyed penguin coming out of the water and preening its feathers before moving into the shrubs at the bottom of the hill.
   
Cathedral cave (10035 bytes) One of the most impressive spectacles along the coast are the Cathedral Caves. The entrance towers 30 meters above our heads as we head into the maw. About 100 feet into the first cave, in the gloom we turned and walked through a short connecting tunnel into the back of the second cave. I couldn't resist taking a picture of a silhouetted Paula. Cathedral cave (4012 bytes)
         
We were lucky that the tide was running out early this afternoon so we could walk the beach to enter the caves. This is one natural site that is controlled and people are only allowed to go down the steep path and along the beach at low tide. The seas are very treacherous along this coast and one can be swept away at high tide. Not to mention the during high water the caves are flooded.

Along the path to the beach we caught sight of the bay and beach through gaps in the vegetation.

 Catlins beach view (12083 bytes)
petrified tree (19407 bytes) We stopped several times along the coast to view the sights. In one bay, the sea had exposed a petrified forest. It was easy to see the fallen tree trunks and the stumps in the rock. petrified tree stumps (12715 bytes)

Catlins estuary (5317 bytes)

Tautori estuari (9738 bytes)
We passed several estuaries. On the left is the Catlin River estuary where we camped and walked the shoreline.

wild flowers (20823 bytes)

nz_catlins_purakaunui_falls.jpg (18867 bytes)
Even though this is early autumn in New Zealand, there are still plenty of wild flowers around. Waterfalls are a bit on the thin side though due to a fairly dry summer. There has been a drought in the northern part of South Island for the last three years.
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