Southland NZ: End of the World (Catlins & Invercargill)
Nobody spends a week in Invercargill… Except us.
We waited out the weather in NZ’s southernmost city, hoping for a few clear days to explore Stewart Island. Stewart Island is the only place in NZ where the kiwi bird isn’t considered endangered. One’s chances of spotting a kiwi in the wild is greatly increased because Stewart Island kiwis are diurnal and feed both during the night and day. However, the weather spoiled our plans to spot a kiwi, and instead we found ways to entertain ourselves in Invercargill (including a visit to Splash Palace and trying the famous Bluff Oysters).
After spending a week in Invercargill, it was time to move on even though the weather hadn’t cleared. On to the Catlins! The Catlins is a beautiful and dramatic place in New Zealand.
Slope Point
Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. Eroded cliffs drop down to the sea below, and there’s a signpost which shows the distance to the Equator and the South Pole. It’s pretty neat to be standing closer to the South Pole than the Equator! The entire area is windswept and looks like I’m standing on another planet.
Nugget Point Lighthouse
Nugget Point was one the highlights of our day in the Catlins. A picturesque lighthouse sits atop a steep headland with a scattering of rocky islets below (The Nuggets). The five minute walk to the lighthouse has incredible views along the coastline, where you can spot seals sunbathing on the rocks below.
Other highlights in the Catlins include: Purakaunui Falls, Teapot Land in Owaka, and feeding the mini horses in Niagara Falls.
We finished our exploration of Southland in sleepy Taieri Mouth. The weather cleared, and we had a beautiful morning on the beach.
SHOUTOUTS: Thanks to our friend Graeme for another round of coffees! We appreciate your support! If YOU want a shoutout, all you have to do is buy the CameraMan a cheap beer - ko-fi.com/adventureviv!
Curious about what a day in the office looks like for adventureViV & CameraMan? CHECK THIS OUT: • Across Country Quad Bi... . We made a promotional video for adventure company 'Across Country Quad Bikes'! Oh, and another one coming soon featuring adventureViV in hot tubs...
For all of you GADGET GEEKS: Interested in getting a drone but hesitant to drop $$$$$ and crash it? We recommend getting a CHEAP drone first (amzn.to/2HsNV4e), so you can practice with it, crash it, and get a good feel for flying before investing in a pricier drone!
For more detailed blog posts, possible trip itineraries, and a breakdown of our budget ($40k, 365 days… are we on track?!), visit us at www.adventureviv.com.