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Welcome to
the constantly traveling website - New Zealand Travel Guide - On
the Road
Details of
the Catlins area for your use to find where to
go, what to do, etc.
"The
Catlins is where native forest meets the sea fostering waterfalls
and river valleys along the way. There are rocky coastal bays, inlets
and estuaries along the seashore.
At Curio
Bay one can
see at the seaside a
160 million-year-old fossilised forest. Their is an abundance of
wildlife plus accessible places for viewing seals and
penguins."
Dunedin to
Owaka in the Catlins is 115km and from Owaka to
Invercargill is 130km.
Be
prepared to stay the night. If you are camper vanning the place to stay
is the Newhaven Holiday Park near Owaka: web page: New Haven Holiday Park. Right there on
the beach is the home of many fur seals that you can
walk up to (don't get too close)...
If you are
looking
for the best lodge in the Catlins to stay at be sure to check in
with: The Waikava Harbour View. Stick
around awhile and explore the area. Good spot for a base to see the
seals, Hector dolphins, Yellow-eyed penguins. Do some of
the many walks in the region, visit the waterfalls, go to Curio bay to
see the fossilized Jurassic age forest.
Mostly
sealed roads now as of
2005. Golden sand beaches and long stretches
of isolation. You have to get off the main road to really see what the
Catlins are all about. Also it must be good weather.
Going south on Route 1 you will go through Waihola (25km). on the left
is Lake Waihola. Next is Milton(17km). On south on Route One to
Balclutha where the Clutha River passes
through on its last leg to the sea. If going to take the turnoff
to the Catlins be sure to get fuel and stock up here. (Good butcher on
the right leaving town by the way).
Can't miss
the turnoff
on the left leaving the town of Balclutha. You can continue on Route
One to Invercargill at this point if time is not in
your favour but I must say missing the Catlins you are missing one of
the most untraveled parts of New Zealand. it is 38km
to the town of Owaka. It
is 25km from Owaka to Papatowai (home of the gypsy
busman) on
Tahakopa Bay.
The Golden Beach
of the Catlins:
The
road now winds
through the Catlins Forest Park where you can find any
number of places to overnight.The best cafe in the Catlins is the
Niagara Falls Cafe outside the community of Niagara.
Be sure to go to
Curio Bay to have a look at the prehistoric forest ruins. Spend
the night at a top quality accommodation while in the Catlins. Treat
yourself to the Waikava Harbour View a spacious four-bedroom lodge in a
private and secluded spot with a panoramic view of the Waikawa Harbour.
Check out their web page: Waikava Harbour Lodge
Some of the
attractions one can find in the Catlins:
Curio Bay -
famous for its unique jurassic fossilised forest with exposed tree
stumps and logs visible at low tide.
Waipohatu Recreation Area – walking track and picnic area at the edge
of the Waikawa Forest.
Slope Point – the most southerly point of the South Island of New
Zealand.
Waipapa Point - scene of one of New Zealand’s worst marine disasters
with the sinking of the SS Tararua on April 29, 1881 and the Waipapa
Point lighthouse - able to be viewed today.
Niagara Falls – small waterfalls on the Waikawa River.
Cathedral Caves, Chaslands Beach – spectacular caves that can only be
viewed at low
tide.
McLean Falls – 40 minute return walk through podocarp forest to
waterfalls.
Porpoise Bay - A
safe swimming and surfing beach and home to the hector Dolphins
From there
on your trip can take a number of roads out of the Catlins. We usually
continue on to Tokanui (28km) after the visit to Waikawa first
just south of Niagara. From Tokanui it is back to meeting up with Route
One at Edendale or Woodville or Invercargill depending on the roads you
take. It's up to you. Not much difference.
So here we are
in the great Southland town of Invercargill run by our
one and only Mayor Tim Shadbolt one of New Zealand's finest.
Catlins
Information
Catlins
Information
If you need
to get in touch with Ron or Paula
(or Sylvester and Chocolate):
©
Copyright 2005 Ron Laughlin - All rights reserved
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