The Catlins

The Catlins is an area in the south-eastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The area is between Balclutha and Invercargill, and is in both the Otago and Southland regions. The Catlins is a rugged, sparsely populated area, noted for its podocarp rainforest and its scenic coastal landscape, both of which are home to many endangered species of birds. Its exposed location leads to its frequent wild weather and heavy ocean swells, which makes this area a Mecca for Catlin's big wave surfers.

I was on my way from Balclutha to Catlins and passed by the bridge which I stop for a rest after a long time driving.

Photo of the Nugget Point Lighthouse in the Catlins on the South Island of New Zealand. The Nugget Point lighthouse stands 76 m above the water at the end of Nugget Point, casting its light across a series of eroded rock stacks called the "nuggets" which give the point its name.

The view from the Nugget Point lighthouse. I saw sea lions on the rock too.



Roaring Bay - come inside and hide! Penguin need privacy.

If you want to see Yellow-eyed penguins, make sure they can't see you. Otherwise they will become frightened and will stay away. So everyone is hidding inside the hut to wait for penguins.

The best time to see penguins is the two hours before dusk. Let's see, there is one penguin is going home. Oopss, sorry for the small image of the little penguin because my camera can't focus too far.

The sheep are waiting for shearing. They seem like unhappy face right?

If you are lucky, you may see the sea lions. And, I was so lucky on that day because I saw not only one but quite a number of sea lions playing around :)

One of the sea lions went for sun-bathing for around 10-15 mins and let me catch the photo with him. And, it was a raining day.

Sea lion may chase you and can bite! so I got to stay right away from sea lions and don't get between sea lions and the sea because the sea is their escape route.

There are many waterfalls in the Catlins region, and McLean Falls is one of the best. A bridal veil-like cascade over dark mossy rocks, the falls plummet more than 20 metres into a deep gorge.

Purakaunui falls walk



McLean Falls

The southern most point of the South Island of New Zealand, called Slope Point. Slope Point lies just south of the small settlements of Waikawa and Haldane, near the southwestern edge of the Catlins and Toetoes Bay and 70 km (40 mi) east of Invercargill.

An AA signpost at Slope Point shows the distance to the Equator and The South Pole.



The tree at the Slope Point are in that shape...