On Thursday 20th Beth and I drove down from Dunedin to Bluff via Invercargill. Bluff is the southernmost port in NZ and the ferry point to Stewart Island where Sorley went last year. After 22 degree temps in Wellington it was relatively cool in Bluff. We stayed the night in Invercargill with a Shetland couple (relatives of the man whose biography I am to write).
We then drove along the south east coast through the Catlins with some wonderful views.
Following the tourist trail on a dirt road we drove 7km (seemed like 20!) to this waterfall at Purakaunui.
We stopped the night at an upmarket eco-lodge at Mohua Park with a wonderful view, of what someone described as 'Tellytubby' country. That evening we had food at the Lumberjack cafe at Owaka. We ate out every night and this was the only place where I did not have fish but venison in a blueberry sauce.
En route north Beth spotted a big bull sea lion on a beach. By the time we parked the car and got to him he was more interested in sleeping on the warm sand, watching us with one eye.
At Nugget Point in a strong wind we walked out to the lighthouse along this path.
It's called Nugget Point as the rocks are supposed to resemble gold nuggets ... and visitors look like old gold prospectors.
The final ascent to the lighthouse was spectacular.
Next day we were on to Dunedin and to Mueraki (one hour or 40 minutes north, depending if one is driving at European or NZ macho speeds). There we had a look at the famous boulders ... don't ask me to explain.
Just proving a point ...
We stayed the night there and went to Fleur's place ... the large building just before the pier.
This was something I had been looking forward to since leaving home ... a Rick Stein recommended restaurant.
The meal was fantastic, one of the best I have had. I ate Orange Roughy and Beth had sole; the lemon sauce was delicious. Then we shared a dessert of rhubarb compote (?) and liquorice (mild) ice cream. Plus we had a great Pinot Gris (which we finished) and I had a Scottish whisky that I had never heard of (!) that was not very great.
The atmosphere was fun and Fleur herself came and chatted with us ... Beth bought her recipe book for Nick. When Beth told her that I was from Shetland she tried to phone her friend Vaila (whose father, Magnus Williamson was from Shetland) ... luckily she was not at home.
In the morning, before returning to Dunedin airport and Wellington, we nipped back down the road from our cottage and had an early coffee at her door. Oh, and I forgot, the night before Fleur's we went 1km up the road to Hampden to get fish and chips, blue cod, bit like haddock and superb! I think I managed to pack in about six (new to me) fish meals in four days. One day we must all gather at Fleur's ... you'll be bowled over. It was a great holiday with Beth ... thank you Nick!
We then drove along the south east coast through the Catlins with some wonderful views.
Following the tourist trail on a dirt road we drove 7km (seemed like 20!) to this waterfall at Purakaunui.
We stopped the night at an upmarket eco-lodge at Mohua Park with a wonderful view, of what someone described as 'Tellytubby' country. That evening we had food at the Lumberjack cafe at Owaka. We ate out every night and this was the only place where I did not have fish but venison in a blueberry sauce.
En route north Beth spotted a big bull sea lion on a beach. By the time we parked the car and got to him he was more interested in sleeping on the warm sand, watching us with one eye.
At Nugget Point in a strong wind we walked out to the lighthouse along this path.
It's called Nugget Point as the rocks are supposed to resemble gold nuggets ... and visitors look like old gold prospectors.
The final ascent to the lighthouse was spectacular.
Next day we were on to Dunedin and to Mueraki (one hour or 40 minutes north, depending if one is driving at European or NZ macho speeds). There we had a look at the famous boulders ... don't ask me to explain.
Just proving a point ...
We stayed the night there and went to Fleur's place ... the large building just before the pier.
This was something I had been looking forward to since leaving home ... a Rick Stein recommended restaurant.
The meal was fantastic, one of the best I have had. I ate Orange Roughy and Beth had sole; the lemon sauce was delicious. Then we shared a dessert of rhubarb compote (?) and liquorice (mild) ice cream. Plus we had a great Pinot Gris (which we finished) and I had a Scottish whisky that I had never heard of (!) that was not very great.
The atmosphere was fun and Fleur herself came and chatted with us ... Beth bought her recipe book for Nick. When Beth told her that I was from Shetland she tried to phone her friend Vaila (whose father, Magnus Williamson was from Shetland) ... luckily she was not at home.
In the morning, before returning to Dunedin airport and Wellington, we nipped back down the road from our cottage and had an early coffee at her door. Oh, and I forgot, the night before Fleur's we went 1km up the road to Hampden to get fish and chips, blue cod, bit like haddock and superb! I think I managed to pack in about six (new to me) fish meals in four days. One day we must all gather at Fleur's ... you'll be bowled over. It was a great holiday with Beth ... thank you Nick!
