CAR ROUTE BY THE CATLINS

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Queenstown is very pretty, we know that, but it is not a plan to stay bogged down, curing and eating sushi. It was time to make a sneak, so in our days off we went to Tapotupotu, the poor already missed the road (and we too, why lie) and decided to make a route by car through the Catlins, to discover one of the most beautiful areas of the South Island of New Zealand.

From first the trip began well, go through Southern Scenic Route from Queenstown to the south, leaving behind typical New Zealand lakes, mountains and panoramas motivated us a lot. Too bad that everything got annoyed upon arriving at Invercargill. We have to say it, it's ugly ugly! Even if you have the McDonalds and Starbucks further south of the world ... The only photo worthwhile (and not even that, judge for yourself ...) was that of this tuatara ...

Nothing, we pass by Invercargill (well, we stop to taste a Chinese fish & chips, of course) and continue in the direction of the Catlins National Park, which we would discover the next day, after overnight at a campground in Fortrose (where, by the way, don't think about having a picnic if you don't want to be eaten by sandflies.) What we found the next morning was quite exciting: the closest point to the South Pole where we've been! The Slope Point, 4,800 km from the Pole and more than 5,000 from Ecuador. But the best ... the little sheep on the road! What are bullshit majas?

Further on there are other animals just as nice or even more: dolphins! Ok, we didn't see any (and see that Rober started looking and looking ...), but Porpoise Bay is quite known for receiving these little animals, and for surfers!

But the place that impressed us most on this trip was the Nugget Point, although before we passed through the Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls, and of course Rober, determined to stop at each waterfall that is indicated by the road (even those of the Niagara, also in this area and that is a monumental crap) he went there to take some pictures.The Nugget Point welcomed us with a wind of 3 pairs of noses, we traveled the km between the carpark and the lighthouse acojonaicos. And up there it is still stronger! But the views are spectacular! (As much as they insist ... that this is not a KAKA!) One of the most impressive views in all of New Zealand.

There is also a small colony of penguins nearby, we did not even get close, we had no confidence that at 2 in the afternoon there would be no animals to say good morning, although if we wanted to see them at Shag Point, where it seems Penguin colony is bigger. We went around 6 in the afternoon and nothing at all! A few boring sea lions and little else.

To finish our route by car through the Caitlins and this complete day we went to the Moeraki Boulders, these stones in the shape of a dinosaur egg or spaceships fallen millions of years ago and that have been petrified (here everyone who leaves his imagination free) distributed throughout the beach. The day did not help us much the truth, and with the clouds and the low light we do not contemplate them in all their splendor, but they have their roll, no?

With the drooping eyelids we went to our little house for today, in the town of Warrington, where by the way there is an eagerness to have the best care garden in the county. Here each neighbor has an Eduardo hands scissors inside. Good night Catlins!

CAR ROUTE BY THE CAITLINS: USEFUL INFO

Where to sleep:

-Fortrose, in a very nice place next to the beach. There are construction bathrooms and water (not potable). Good site.
-Waikawa, is a more feote site in this town, although closer to the points of interest. They only leave one night next to some construction bathrooms.
-Warrington Reserve, here we spend the second night. It is a very busy place, near this town. There is a lot of space and it's pretty cool. The beach is not visible from here, but it is a few steps away. The bathrooms are good.

Where to see penguins:

We did not see them, either on this day or the next, although it seems that it is best to reach a place where a colony lives either early in the morning or at dusk. Perhaps a site with quite% success is the Sandfly Bay in the Otago Peninsula, which we visited the next day ... so read on!

Travel Map:

Hopefully our route by car through the Catlins you liked it 🙂

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