After yesterdays stormy day we woke up with hope for a better day. we started off in the rain with grey cloudy skies and a cold wind.

The road inland towards Queenstown was through miles of agricultural and animal farms with very few towns. The hills and valleys were green and lush vegetation. We saw sheep cattle and deer farms.

The weather was getting better as we reached Lake Wakatipu this is our first view.

The clouds were full of rain but we managed to explore Queenstown in the dry.

It was cold though and we kept our coats on! This is the steam boat we have booked to go on tomorrow The TSS Earnslaw. Also Grandma found a kiwi bird!

We progressed on up the lake to the end at Glenorchy. It felt like we were in the Lake District and very like the Scottish highlands.

Although it kept spotting with rain We found a parking area out of the wind and sheltered. So I took lots of photos.Here are a few.

Hope You are all feeling well and sending you love. We have a nice lodge house for 3 nights near to the airport. We have just treated ourselves to a lamb shank dinner with lots of vegetables, very yummy!

Today Saturday, we knew it was our last chance to explore the Catlins. When we looked out it was pouring with rain. So never say die, we wrapped up in wet weather gear and headed out. Our first stop was to a lighthouse at Waipapa Point. It obligingly stopped raining after a while and we got some dramatic skies behind the lighthouse and all around us. There was a huge enormous sea lion swimming in the water close by. and lots of sea birds around. It was a truly unspoilt natural coastal area.

As you can see in the photos a huge storm was brewing up.

Next we went to the petrified forest; to the centre there, as there is an exhibition to look round and a café. It was very wet now on and off. We walked to see the sea again but this time it was high tide and the rocks were covered mostly.

We next called at a lake with great reflections and a walk through the rain forest. Lake Wilkie. It was a steep walk down and then a loop over the lake on board walks.

We gave up on the weather then and headed back to the hotel. I had some washing to do and we rested a while. Early evening we went along the headland to the port near Invercargill. It is a wild strange area with a large port and harbour. The wind was so strong it was making huge waves and blowing the water away from the land. It was quite exhilarating.

Back in Invercargill we had to battle against the wind to walk to a burger bar. it felt like a force 10 gale.

In the evening the rain pelted down and the wind battered the building . You certainly experience weather in extremes in South Island! We watched the film The Piano on TV

That is of course set in NewZealand.

It took us ages to reach the Catlins today. We mistakenly put the wrong spelling in for destination and ended up miles too far north before we realised oops! We had a coffee break then headed to Catlins to arrive at lunch time!

Our first stop was a walk through a rainforest to see the tallest waterfall in the Catlins McClean Falls. It was flowing quite full today and we got some good pictures.

Next we travelled past a spouting cave near Purakaunui Bay. The bay was an almost perfect crescent shape. We took the images from a view point on the southern scenic highway.

Our last stop today was to see a petrified forest at Curio Bay. People also go there to see yellow eyed penguins, but none to be seen when we were there. You can make out the tree stumps and long tree trunks. The seaweed was also fascinating to watch swirling in the waves. By this time it was so hot and sunny such a contrast from the morning when we were cold and in coats.

Again we have done some nice walks to find nature’s beauty and also seen lots of seabirds and wild life.

Missing you all hope you like my photos

Mum xxx

We travelled to Invercargill today from Dunedin. On the way we visited part of the Catlins area on the Southern highway.

First stop was Kaka Point. The sand was white and gritty, full of the tiniest stones shells and driftwood. Lots of long seaweed and vegetation were washed up too. There is a strong current here and too dangerous to swim. The surf was pounding on the beach. it was totally unspoilt and very few people around.

The road lead onto Nugget point Lighthouse. When we came here 3 years ago. it had a gravel road and was very scary to drive on. We only went so far and turned round.

BUT this time the road was tarmacked and there was a car park and a path to walk along to the lighthouse. The walk was so pretty with views both sides when we got nearer to the lighthouse. There were a few jutting out rocks beyond the cliffs and the lighthouse was strategically placed to guard ships from danger.

 

There was a colony of spoonbills on one area of rocks and I also photoed a beautiful butterfly.

Next stop and long, long, walk too…. was to Jacks Blow Hole. It was quite a steep slog up the cliffs and down through 2 bays, then inland to find the huge chasm. It was low tide and so sadly no spout of water to see, but the force of the waves through the tunnels was so terrific.

We are now at Invercargill in a studio apartment with kitchen bathroom lounge and bedroom, luxury xxx

Lots to see in the Catlins tomorrow

 

Today we went on a beautiful walk. To get to it we travelled along past Larnach Castle and down Sandymount Road . This turned into a gravel road and eventually after many bends and steep hilly bits we came to a junction. Not sure which way to go we turned left and came to a huge tidal inlet/ marshy area called Hoopers Inlet. The tide was out and there were loads of birds to see. We were spoilt for choice! Pukeko birds, spoonbills, shags/cormorant, herons,ducks, birds of prey, plovers even a kingfisher and sheep everywhere. We took many pics with our long lenses. We realised we were not too far from Portobello and so had a coffee break there.

 

We returned to find ….yes more wader birds and then retraced our steps back to Sandymount/ pikiwhara.

You park your car near the top of the steep gravel road hill and there is a circular walk

 

. It was so lovely with fantastic views 360 around the top. We got to the “chasm” and then to “lovers leap” fairly easily and decided to continue round rather than go back the way we had come… …….big mistake! We ended up climbing up a steep steep path that twisted and turned and began to be more of a sand dune. I had to pull myself up using the long grasses at times as it was very steep. We would just think we were at the top when the path would turn and it would still go up. Needless to say we are here to tell the tale! When we got to the top we looked down on where the car was parked and so had to descend again. If we had climbed another 100 feet there was a trig point for the highest part. We just hadn’t got the energy I’m afraid.😜

So we went back near our hotel and had lunch in a garden centre. They often are good places to get a lunch or meal and nit too expensive but healthy fresh food.

In the afternoon we travelled along the Southern scenic route to Brighton beach where we relaxed and watched the surfers and I had a fruit boysenberry icecream

 

we had a lovely tiring day today and so enjoyable..

We moved to the Caitlin’s tomorrow. We couldn’t find a motel or b&b so we are staying in Inverscarvill and travelling into the Caitlin’s each day.

More tomorrow xxxx

Today we went into Dunedin to the Victorian Train station, the Otago Settlers Museum and the Chinese Garden. They were 3 interesting buildings and the settlers museum was amazing with all the information and exhibits and video footage. We then went to Port Chalmers for our lunch. The weather was improving and getting warmer. We travelled to the Mole to see the sea lions and walked right along the long white sandy beach nearby

 

We

We sat for a long time sunbathing and watching the surf

Blog is a bit short today but pleased to say we walked along way in town and along the Mole and along sandy beaches and in sanddunes. All this sunshine and fresh air is doing me good. xxx

Look

Look at the contrast between Saturdays and yesterday (Sundays) weather!

Well today is Monday and it has stayed dry all day. we have sunshine but a bitter wind blowing straight from Antarctica…

We went along the road high above Dunedin to take the views we missed yesterday due to the rain.

Then we headed to the other side of the bay to Port Chalmers. this is the view from Scotts memorial tower above the town.

 

 

At the end of the road opposite to the Albatross Centre we walked along the port man made protective embankment. We saw fur seals, arctic terns and a penguin! I noticed the terns dive bombing what I thought was a big fish but on closer looking it was a blue eyed penguin. it moved very fast and was very difficult to photograph

At the end of the road opposite to the Albatross Centre we walked along the port man made protective embankment. We saw fur seals, arctic terns and a penguin! I noticed the terns dive bombing what I thought was a big fish but on closer looking it was a blue eyed penguin. it moved very fast and was very difficult to photograph

 

After this we went to Long beach. It was a huge strip of sandy beach absolutely beautiful and only grandad and I on it!

And here again is the penguin grandads photos

love to you all xxx

 

As you can see it rained most of today! We set off hoping it wouldn’t rain but a huge black cloud gradually came over the whole area and as I write it is raining cats and dogs!

We went to Larnach castle which was built high up overlooking the natural harbour inlet of Dunedin.

The man who lived there had 3 wives in succession. 1st one died suddenly, leaving him with 6 children so he married her sister, who his children disliked. After she died he married a younger lady also not approved of by his grown up children.

He killed himself in the New Zealand parliament buildings and his estate was left as a third to his wife and two thirds for his children. To cut a long story short after she died the family sold the estate and it eventually was left in a ruin. In the 1960s a young couple bought it and have spent their lives bringing it back to its former glory. Their son and wife now own it and their  2 children will continue the work. It is still being renovated and is very Victorian with some of the original furniture having been returned and bought back .

It was a very wet day but we did brave it and after touring the castle we walked round the gardens and grounds which are really beautiful. There are stunning views but sadly they were covered by dark clouds! We got quite wet!

We left the castle after lunch and headed up to the Royal Albatross breeding colony.

The exhibition was free and indoors… so we kept dry and warmed up there, watching videos of the albatross and blue penguins and the fur seals.

we are back at our hotel now and it is still pouring down. we think we have bad rain in UK, but NZ can compete and win hands down.

Here are some of the garden shots I took.

Love you all xx

 

 

We were sad to leave Ian and Rosemary at the B&B, they had made our stay so lovelyWe called in at a castle and shops with animals and gardens. Meg’s place, it was very interesting and unusual

I took pics of lilies and a peacock for lilyana and some poppies

We called in at a few places along the coast as we travelled down.

Omaramu has a penguin colony but we saw loads of cormorants/shags

Next we found a headland for sighting fur seals

Lots of sandy surf beaches with no one on them

Beautiful views down to the beaches.

Eventually we arrived at Dunedin. We stayed in this hotel 3 years ago and because of that we have been given a family studio apartment with 2 bedrooms and a kitchenette..very nice!

We are here for 5 nights as there is so much to do and see round this area.

Hope you like the photos and that all is well with you all

Love mum and dad xxx

PS more photos to up load I pressed publish too soon, watch this space 😜😜😜😂😂😂

All done now, I was trying too hard yesterday

Today we opted for a relaxing day and hoped to spend some time on the beach…wrong!

it is cold and grey today and not a day to sunbathe at all. We went into the town and found a coffee shop.

Next we visited the information centre and paid to have a tour of and explanation of Maori rock drawings. A Maori lady told us many things about her culture and how the Europeans had wrongly assumed lots of facts about the drawings and their meanings.

She made her talk so interesting and from the heart, I found myself welling up with tears. I will remember all she said for ever.

So next we went to the Timaru botanic gardens. They were formal Victorian style gardens with traditional beds and different themed gardens, surrounded by many tree varieties. No rainforest plants were featured at all.

The rest of the day we travelled to Fairlie to our favourite bakery for a late lunch.

Much to our indignation we were stopped by the police for travelling too slowly.

65 to 80 in a 100kper hour. You can be fined here for travelling too slowly !

Back at the B&B we went for a walk along the cliff path for about half an hour. We came to a marshy area and saw lots of different sea birds, even a spoonbill flew overhead.