As part of the anti-clockwise circumnavigation of the South Island it was now time to return to the east coast. However I wanted to go as far south as I could and so we went to Invercargill along the way.
The southern end of Lake Manapouri. It's interesting to read about the hydro-electricity power station sited under the lake.
The Clifden Bridge which was opened in 1899.
The original decking survive but has been covered by modern planks.
The new bridge.
It's a suspension bridge.
The water in the Waiau River flows quite quickly.
The old decking under the modern planks.
Photo of the construction.
Deer farm next to the bridge.
The farm house which looks like it has seen better days.
We eventually reached the southern coast. The trip down from Manapouri was really beautiful with very few cars. Not many tourists come down here to the far south.
The southern end of the Alps.
The winds in this area are obviously severe.
Bashful birds near Riverton.
Not exactly an inviting beach. If you head south you reach Anartcia.
One curious sheep.
There appears to be quite a tidal range here.
We reached Invercargill and decided to drive down to Bluff which is the most southerly town in NZ. I had to take a photo of the puce building.
There is not too much here except for a few shops. At least there was a bakery for lunch.
Bluff is one of the oldest European settlements in NZ. Many of the houses are situated on a 'bluff' that overlooks Bluff Harbour and this is what you get to look at.
The chimney of the aluminium smelter on the other side of the harbour.
Lighthouse with the Ruapuke Lighthouse off in the distance.
Interesting restaurant facing south over the ocean. It's for sale.
Famous sign post. It's not the most southerly point in NZ but it is close.
The other restaurant facing south is also for sale. There must be a limited demand for the view to Antarctica.
Another of those weird NZ public toilets that talks you through the process of opening and closing the automated doors. You are allowed ten minutes.
This chain sculpture represents the Maori link to nearby Stewart Island which lies approximately twenty miles further south.
The Maori perspective.
We drove back to Invercargill but only lingered to take a look at the Town Hall.
Quite impressive auditorium.
Impressive basilica. We should have stayed longer and explored more.
Instead we headed east.
After driving inland for a while we reached the coast again at Tautuka Bay. Absolutely beautiful.
Blowhole.
It's still chilly down in the far south, even at the end of October (May in the northern hemisphere).
We got to Dunedin about 5pm where we stayed with a house exchange family who had stayed at our house almost four years ago.
It had been a long drive but really beautiful and relatively uncrowded on the roads, even by NZ standards.
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