Blogs from Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

The road down to Invercargill was meant to be very scenic. The map failed to show just how bendy it was. With speeds of little of 40km/h this trip could take all day (and it did). This area had a whole section in the guide book dedicated to beaches, waterfalls, lookouts etc etc etc…. It turned out that although there were some lovely beaches the New Zealand tourist board had gone over the top with what they considered to be worth seeing. Each place of interest would normally be found by turning off the road and continuing for miles down gravel roads. After one very long gravel road we reached what was described as a breathtaking waterfall. 10 minutes of walking and we arrived or at least we think we did. We did have to check ... read more

I'm writing from the city of Invercargil, New Zealand's southern-most city. Also, the location of Burt Munroe's home in The World's Fastest Indian. I've had an amazing past week, so get comfortable. It began the night before my a three day expedition of Doubtful Sound with Fiordland Wilderness Experience. I met my expedition group with the owner, Bill. He briefed us on our trip and gently broke the news of our pre-6 am wake up times. Ouch. To Doubtful Sound from Te Anau, there was 3 hours of van travel and boat ride across Lake Manapouri before we could think about our paddle. We were getting our money's worth, he insisted. The next morning, not so bright but very early, I sat with my gear on a dark curb under a flickering street light, trying not ... read more

Last time I wrote I had just returned salted, bronzed and thoroughly exhausted from my trip through the Whitsunday Islands. In the two weeks or so since it's been all change and I now sit in a comfortable leather-bound chair in Invercargill, New Zealand. Much has happened and much cash has been spent (see why soon) and hopefully, this should be fairly brief... After Airlie and the Whitsundays, I still had about five days in Australia. Leaving Airlie at 8:30pm I arrived in Mission Beach, further north up the East Coast at the inconvenient time of 4:00am. I'd rung ahead and been told there would be a sofa waiting for me in my hostel, upon which I could doze until reception opened the next morning. Mission Beach is apparently seeing more and more traveller and tourist ... read more

It has been about 6 weeks since I last wrote on TravelBlog, I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to try and catch up. I finished travelling around New Zealand, and my made my way across to Australia. For the sake of completeness I'll try and write about the places I saw in New Zealand and my few weeks in Australia so far. But after even such a short time some of the details have faded. Laura and I drove down the southern scenic route from Te Anua to Invercargil. It wasn't as scenic as the drive down the west coast or the road from Wanaka to Queenstown, but there was a nice bridge, the Clifdon bridge - I think. Invercargil is the southern most city in New Zealand. The reputation of the ... read more