Curio Bay and The Catlins 2016

7 November

We knew Curio Bay was remote but not to the point it didn' even register on the satnav! We had to enter several nearby locations before we found one the satnav knew about. Fortunately when we near the bay there were signs and with so few properties here, it wasn't difficult to find our accommodation at Curio Bay Boutique Studios.

The view from the lounge or the bed was across the bay and beautiful. We saw some dolphins just beyond the breaking waves and did get some photos.

We hadn't stopped for lunch so Gill cooked lamb shanks late afternoon and then we went out to the Petrified Forest just along the road before going on to Salop Point. That involved driving about nine miles on a gravel road of varying quality. Salop Point is the southernmost point of New Zealand, next stop south is the Antarctic.

During the night we heard the penguins that nest below the property but fortunately it did not disturb us too much.

8 November

The weather at Curio Bay itself was dull so we decided to head for Invercargill. We stopped at the Niagra Falls Cafe (the cafe five minutes drive away) for a coffee and to see if we wanted dinner there. The gardens of the cafe were beautifully kept and the cafe itself was a nicely converted school. However the evening menu was a bit basic so we decided we would have our main meal at lunchtime when we got to Invercargill, a two hour drive.

For some time it had been bothering me why the name Invercargill was ringing a bell. As we walked through a shopping arcade I spotted Burt Munro's motorcycle in an exhibition case. The film, Fastest Indian in the World, is the story of Burt Munro who lived in Invercargill and tells how we came to hold the record for the fastest Indian motorcycle in the world. It is a wonderful story and one of my favourite films, Anthony Hopkins plays the part so well. The bike itself was made in 1920 and Munro created various records in New Zealand during the 1930s. It was not until 26 August 1967 that this record was set when Burt was aged 68. It still stands!

Wikepedia's page.

See this page for what is underneath the fairing. It is quite unbelievable.

The real story is on You Tube. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

On the way back we took the coast road to Curio Bay and stopped at Pukeko Alley Gallery and Studio for a coffee. The husband recycles wood and makes various objects and his wife is an artist. They both have good sized workshops behind the cafe shop. Gill bought a few trinkets.

We then went on to the Waipapa Point lighthouse, the site of New Zealands worst shipping disaster in 1881 when 131 people lost their lives when the Tararua ship hit a reef. We saw two sea lions playing on the beach before we returned to Curio Bay.

9 November

There was light rain at Curio Bay so we decided to head off somewhere else. Niagara Falls was the first destination but they were known to be small and as it was stil raining we decided not to bother. We went on to McLean Falls which had been recommended by Deni at Fjordlands Lodge. It was still raining but much lighter. It was a forty minute return walk through beautiful mountainside woodland. The drive there was also through beautiful scenery, mountains, valleys and pastures.

We then had lunch at The Whistling Frog cafe where we photographed the sign for the grandchildren. "Frog Parking Only, All Others Will Be Toad".

Seals can often be seen at Surat Bay but no luck for us. However, at least the sun had now come out.

It was the same at Nugget Point which is the only place in the world to see three types of seal and yellow eyed penguins, so we are told! We didn't see one but again the drive was worth going anyway.

We returned with another stop at The Whistling Frog.

Photos

From our studio
Burt Munro's fastest Indian in the World	Waipapa Point Lighthouse

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