Blogs from Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Since we cannot go to Stewart Island today, our time has been freed up to do other things so we set off to explore around the area and leave the town and gardens for tomorrow. Tomorrow there is a running race from the Sandy Point Domain into town so we figure it best to go there today while peace reigns. Our B&B is just off the Sandy Point Road so it was an easy drive straight down the peninsula. We were amazed. The environment and recreation Domain has every sport imaginable set up in the area - hiking, biking, speedway, equestrian, golf, rugby, scouts, shooting, archery and so much more, all in one area set amongst pines and natives and between the Oreti Ocean Beach and the Oreti Inlet. We set off on a walking circuit ... read more

We took the Southern Scenic Route drive to Invercargill from Manapouri. We're struck by how little traffic there is down here and how good the road surfaces are. A scarcity of bloody great heavy trucks might have something to do with the latter. South through Borland, Clifden, Tuatapere where we stopped for some lunch and had our best cheese roll to date as we attempt to become connoisseurs of the mighty roll. Then on through Riverton to Invercargill where we stopped only briefly before heading for our bnb on the road to Bluff. The bnb was spacious and comfortable; we dropped our bags and drove out to Bluff in the early evening. Desperate for fresh blue cod fish and chips. Yes! Perfect. We only had one day left here and were keen to go to Stewart ... read more

Spent New Years in Dunedin. Sunday we went to Tunnel Beach, after a long downhill trek we arrived at the tunnel. Steep, slippery steps that, during low tide, allow you access to a beautiful beach. Drove through the Caitlin's today to Invercargill. Stopped for a beer at Waxy O'Shea. Leaving in the morning for Te Anau, close to Milford Sound.... read more

A few days to catch up on as we have not had a reliable internet connection On Wednesday we left the site at Pounawea and started off further along the southern scenic route. We stopped at Perakaunui Falls. This waterfall features in most tourism brochures and once appeared on postage stamps. It was a good walk to the falls and presented a good photo opportunity.Next stop was the Cathederal Caves. These can only be reached at low tide and this was not for another five hours so we had to give this one a miss. Instead we went to McLean Falls. This presented another demanding walk but the effort was worth while. We made lunch and recuperated before the drive into Invercargill. We went straight to the I-site (tourist information office) where they recommended the Central ... read more

Woensdag 5 Maart 201: Als ik 's ochtends rustig zit te ontbijten met Rose en Dani komt er plots een medewerker van de camping af met men pakketje. Daar zijn men kaartjes! Ik deel er direct 2 uit. Rose&Dani rijden richting Queenstown over de gravelweg die ik Zuidswaarts heb gevolgd. We zien elkaar beslist terug op het Noord Eiland. Door de plotse levering maakt dat ik snel moet pakken. Het is totaal ander weer dan gisteren. De zon schijnt en het is een pak warmer. Na het supermarktbezoek verlaat ik Te Anau dat nu een een paar dagen men thuisbasis was. Het is raar om terug te vertrekken en het fietsen voelt al onwennig. Ik de scenic route op naar Manapouri. Ik ben omgeven door bergen bedekt met een laagje sneeuw. Ik kom voobij een gigantische ... read more