We had a drink at he Irish pub , where we met a girl from Limerick on a work visa. We also met an Australia couple from Canberra, who were well travelled and were shocked at NZ prices. We were surprised as we thought Australia was expensive considering their booming economy.
We adjourned to the NZ pub to eat What we have discovered since travelling in the south is the similarity of menu and price - whether in a pub or a restaurant. We ordered a calamari to start It was not good as in The olive at Te Anau. This was followed by Nearby Stewart Island salmon and blue cod with bacon wrapped asparagus on a bed of delicious risotto. It was spectacular and not what one would expect from pub grub!
The other consisted of Blue Cod but not as well presented as last night. I
insisted on tasting the wine before we ordered a bottle tonight - no more nasty siurprises!! Both are delicious particularly my choice.
It was 9pm and the restaurant had emptied - the Kiwis retire early.
This morning , having quitted t he Hotel at 9, we made three unsuccessful attempts to find the scenic southern route to Dunedin. It is a less travelled route. We had intended taking the Tajiere Gorge Railway at 230 but with the loss of time we had to abandon that plan. We were journeying in The Catlins Coastal Rainforest Park. Once the hunting ground for the Maori , by 1700 they had been supplanted by Eoropean whalers . In 1840 Captain Edward Cattlin came to investigate the navigability of the river and soon the loggers followed and sawmills were set up. Milling declined from the 1930s and the area is a shadow of its former self.
A gravelled road some 14 km took us to Curio on the coast.
It was certainly worth the detour. The peninsula was spectacular with the sea serving both sides of the peninsula. We were just in time to see the dolphins leave as it appears they only frequent the area early morning or late afternoon. We saw a baby penguin,
who must have become separated from his family. It is too early for baby penguins to leave the nest It won't be for a month or two yet. The bird life was plentiful and unafraid of humans.
The couple we had met in Wellington had highly recommended a visit here and we were not disappointed.
We visited the nearby Petrified forest. Here we're the remains of Jurassic forests which had been buried under volcanic ash. The only evidence now are rings of trees one can distinguish in the wave cut platform. Much evidence has been stolen over the years - stumps of trees by souvenir collectors.
This is an earthquake zone as wa s evidenced by the signs. One tends to forget how much of NZ is earthquake prone.
We continued to Florence Hill Lookout, where again the road met the sea with a magnificent panorama of Tautuku surrounded by sandy beaches - if only the weather obliged. It's like winter here. Yesterday it was 10 degrees in Dublin and 12 here and it's supposed to be summer here!!
It was de rigeur to buy ones lunch from s mobile restaurant- of course fish and chips of course Blue cod and chips.
We continued to Kaka Point , a minor deviation , where again the road met the sea. and great views of the sea surrounded by sandy beaches.
From there we drove to Balclutha , where we rejoined the 1 highway to Dunedin. We found the motel Alexis ion George's St without much trouble. It is very well appointed and right in the city centre. More tomorrow.....
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