The Catlins (South Island Day 6)

So we drove out of Fiorland shortly after we got back from our kayaking the day before. After about two hours of back tracking to get out of the park, we got to go another two hours to Invacargill and then the Catlins National Park. Another night spent of on the side of the road and in the morning we were practically there.

Now to keep this post short (mostly because I'm still recovering from my 21st birthday weekend and don't feel like writing) I'll briefly tell you where we went, and then lots of pictures.

So we got up in the morning and went to Slope Point, which is the Southern Islands most southern point. If you read wayyy back, you'll remember I had been to Cape Reigna, the North Island's (and NZ's) most northern point. So this made it feel like we had done it all, although its not New Zealand's most southern point, because there is actually a third smaller island more south. Here some of us climbed down and played on the rocks cause the tide was out enough.




Then we headed down some more gravel roads (which I guess we weren't suppose to have the RV on) and stopped at a petrified forest. This was my first time to a petrified forest and needless to say, there were no actual trees. Just fossils of them. The tide luckily was far enough out that we could go down and check them out.


The we drove down the road just a little to a beach called Porpoise Bay. While there weren't any dolphins that swam up to us (apparently the do sometimes there) we did come across a seal. So of course we set up our towels etc. close by so we could hang with it and have it teach us how to be so lazy. After being there a little while we grabbed ice cream and had ourselves a little jam sesh with the guitar and bongo.



We then went north along the coast to Nugget Point where we checked out some yellow eyed penguins from afar. Apparently they are the rarest species of penguins in the world. We were in a little shack above the beach looking down on them from afar, so my photos didn't work out the best, but if you look close you can spot them.


We then continued north another couple hours to Dunedin.