Friday 6th December, 2013. The Catlins - Day 1 The whole of the Catlins was an important area for Maori. Forest birds, cabbage tree sugar, fish cockles, eels and lamprey (which were caught o the first full moon in spring) were important food sources. Waikawa harbour was a seasonal campsite. The first Europeans in the area were sealers and whalers. A short-lived whaling station was established just inside Waikawa Harbour entrance in 1838 - it was abandoned by 1844. Waikawa developed as a timber port in the 1880's and in 1889 had a pub, a couple of stores and a smithy. The main communication with the outside was by coastal steamer which shipped timber to Dunedin. Today the main activities are based around fishing, farming, and tourism. M wanted to come here to see the rare
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