Buildings - Invercargill

 Unexpectedly in the southernmost city in Aotearoa New Zealand, is a Italo-Byzantine style church – seen in northern Italian churches of the sixth to eighth centuries.

Built in 1912 from local bricks.

The 32-metre bell tower

Another thing I noticed in Invercargill, was the huge amount of Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings.  Lots of columns and arches.

I think this is the Town Hall. Quite extravagant architectural details.

Catlins - Nugget Point - Southland

 
The Nugget Point is located near Kaka Point. The walk from the car park area takes about half an hour to the Nugget Point Lighthouse. Wave-eroded rocks, which are likened to the shape of gold nuggets, can be seen from the viewing platform at the end of the path. The lighthouse was built in 1869-70, is 9.5 metres high and situated 76 metres above sea level.

Along the way we saw the fur seal colony on the rocks at sea level to the left of the track and also below the lighthouse, During the months of December – February elephant seals also make The Nuggets their stopover point.

Looking South.

Catlins - Purakaunui Falls - Southland

 

It's an easy walk from car park to falls, about 20 minutes return

Located 17kms south of Owaka is the Purakaunui Falls Scenic Reserve. The Purakaunui Falls are a short walk from a car park area through impressive podocarp and beech forest.

The track is suitable for wheelchair access to the top viewing platform. It is then a fairly steep climb downwards to the lower platform which gives an amazing view of these picturesque falls

Framed by native forest and cascading 20 metres over 3 tiers, Purakaunui Falls are beautiful.

Catlins - Tautuku Bay - Southland

 

The wide, horseshoe shaped bay features white sand and wavy blue water and is backed by wind-bent trees.  The sand glitters with quartz.  I am fascinated by the turquoise water. I expect that on a tropical South Pacific Island, not on a Southland beach.

We stopped at Florence Hill Lookout, which is basically a car park by the side of the main road through the Catlins, so you don’t have to do any walking. The views are spectacular.

We spent some time watching the blowhole from Florence Hill Lookout. 

There are walks at Tautuku Bay, we didn't explore them this time.

Florence Hill Lookout is located along the Chaslands Highway, between Papatowai and Cathedral Caves. The road through the Catlins goes through plenty of twists and turns — bring motion sickness pills if you need them! There is a lot to see in the Catlins, including coastal viewpoints, waterfalls and some excellent beaches. 

Catlins - McLean Falls - Southland New Zealand

Listen to the native birds as you walk through beautiful Southland bush to a spectacular 22 metre cascade waterfall surrounded on both sides by dark-green mossy rocks.  

To get there turn off the Chaslands Highway onto Rewcastle Road 11.6 km south of Papatowai. It's a further 3 km to the car park. The walk from this point is mostly easy going along a well maintained track through native forest. There are a few steep steps to climb and some parts are wet underfoot but this is a walk the whole family can do.

Car park to falls – 20 minutes easy walk one way.

Catlins - Curio Bay - Fossilised Forest

 

Curio Bay is of international significance for its Petrified Forest dating back to the Jurassic period. The tree fossils, similar to Kauri and Matai, are approximately 170 million years old. The forest was alive when New Zealand was part of Gondwanaland.

Fossilised tree embedded in the rock wall.

You may also see protected yellow-eyed penguins at Curio Bay in the late afternoon as they come ashore after a day at sea. Please be sure to read the Department of Conservation information on these protected birds.

Curio Bay is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Invercargill, so allow for that time with the low tide.

Fossilised tree in the rock.

The grain of the timber is visible in the fossilised tree trunk.

Fossilised tree stumps and logs.

Looking down on a fossilised tree stump.  The grain of the time and the bark of the tree fascinate me.

Fossilised tree stump  at Curio Bay, Southland, New Zealand.

Fossilied trees in Curio bay.

Petrified wood on the beach at Curio bay.

Catlins - Slope Point Southland

The Catlins, Te Akau Tai Toka, the spectacular coastal stretch between Balclutha and Invercargill, boasts a rugged beauty and untouched quality that is magnetic. Here you’ll find a world of native forests fringed by high cliffs, deserted sandy beaches, sparkling bays, cascading waterfalls, hidden lakes, blowholes, caves, picturesque lighthouses and even a petrified forest. These environments are home to an array of fauna, from native birds, to seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. The Catlins’ natural landscapes are enthralling and the wildlife is extraordinary.

We left Invercargill early morning, as we needed to catch low tide at 11am at Curio Bay, where the fossilized trees are. 

First stop of the day was Slope Point, the Southern most part of the South Island.

After a quick walk in the brisk wind, we got to Slope Point.  Not much to see.  An automated light beacon and a sign post.

That's all folks!  Anyway, super windy here, so bring a wind breaker jacket. 

Beaches - Southland - New Zealand

Exploring Southern Southland today. Visiting Riverton / Aparima, Waihoaka and McCracken's Rest.

Recommend visiting the Te Hikoi Museum in Riverton.  Great way to learn the history of the area.  Even learnt how to build a small boat with seal skins and branches.   

Visited Mores Scenic Reserve at Riverton/ Aparima. Looking across the bay towards Invercargill. So much kelp around the rocks.

There was a short walk up a hill, and the views South towards Solander Island were amazing.

Next stop was Waihoaki Beach, also known as Gemstone Bay.  Full of colourful rocks, that have been smoothed by the ocean.

Jasper, quartz, chalcedony, and other gemstones all piled on the shore.

I managed to get my shoes wet, and I picked up a few pebbles as well.

The trees indicate how strong the wind gets here. After a late lunch of a Southern cheese roll, we stopped at McCracken's Rest.  A lookout at Te Waewae bay.   The road goes inland from here, so this was the last stop before returning to Invercargill.