Nugget Point and Catlins / NZ

In the morning starting at my Camp between Dunedin and Milford at the Scenic Route I headed South. Passing Milford, turn onto the Scenic Route 176 again. 

Walk to the Light house

Shortly after, take a turnoff onto a gravel road to Kaka Point do the walk to the lighthouse Nugget Point. 
It had been very windy and a bit rainy :-) It's about a 15 min walk to the Point to watch the rocks in the ocean. 
I read it's possible to see seals, dolphins etc. - I haven't

The Nuggets in the water

Back on the Scenic Route drive down to the South. First, I hadn't been sure if there is anything interesting down the South. 
Having a short break in the ISite Owaka, I got a great map of the Catlins. Get the map or print it yourself if you haven't got a detailled map already to find all the spots.
The rest of the day I was kind of in nature-sightseeing-stress :-)

Beach of Surat Bay

From Owaka I headed to the nearby Surat Bay. There are a few spots where you can see sea lions. The very friendly ISite staff recommended me to get to this beach.
It's a long strip and you can walk for hours I guess. I turned after about 20 min. On my walk I nearly didn't see it, but there was a big sea lion lying at the beach. He was enjoying the sand :-)

Sea Lion hardly to see next to the stones and covered in sand

 

Looks cute, but don't mess with them

Purakaunui Falls

From there you can follow little roads, Being on Purakaunui Falls Road you need to check the signs and should visit the Purakaunui Falls.  
I loved those walks through the amazing  mossy forests. It's sooooo green. 

I was too fast, but don't miss the Florence Hill Lookout you pass in a curve on the Scenic Route. It's a fantastic view onto the ocean. I only got a glimpse.

McLean Falls and I ;-)

If it's low tide you should first head to the Cathedral Caves, if you still have time stop on your way at the McLean Falls. 
I even liked those more than the other falls.To get there you again have a green, green, green short walk first. 

Green, green, green

 Nearby is the stop for the Cathedral Caves. It's the only spot you have to pay for. There is downhill walk through the forest to the coast. Crossing the beach you get to the caves which are quite impressive. You can't get into them during high tide, that's why it's so important to be there on time +/- half an hour, I was told. 

Cathedral Cave from the inside

The two "entrances" to the left and right are connected inside

Getting late, I wanted to stay at Curio Bay. You have to turn left, off the Scenic Route. Passing  Niagara you definitely have to have dinner in the restaurant "Niagara Falls". It's directly at the road, it has a great flair and just so incredibly fantastic food. I really thought about getting a second serving of spinach-feta-pastry. Yummy, yummy, yummy. 

One of the camper / tent spots

At Curio Bay I stayed at the Camp-
ground, which is very basic! Do not expect much or anything.
The nice thing is that you have little coves inbetween meter high grass and gives a feeling of privacy. 

In walking distance is a spot to watch yellow-eyed-penguins. There were a few bathing or standing around :-)

swimming yellow-eyed-pengiun

Two little ones gaining fat to be prepared for the sea

Tip: 
Wherever you go in the Catlins, bring your anti-mossi-spray, naughty little bastards they are. 

Keep your clock in sight to know where to go next, some points can only be visited with low tide and others are only interesting during high tide.

To give an idea: 
From the one campground to the other I drove 215km. 
And it's not July even if i posted it in July, it all has been in February "summer"

Dunedin / NZ

Coming from Oamaru, stopping at the Moeraki Boulders you head further to the south on Highway 1 and you will reach Dunedin.

Walking up Baldwin Street

Dunedin is one of the biggest cities on the South Island with many Cafès as it's a University city.
I would first go to the world's steepest residential street "Baldwin Street". The street is in the north of the city and makes sense of driving south and north and south. 
It's fun walking up, it really is steep!

Giving an impression how steep Baldwin is

From there I would make a stop in the city. In New Zealand Egg's Benedict are quite common and if you like it or never have tried it again, NZ is definetly a place to do. I had fantastic once at "The kitchen table Cafe & bake" they even had them in different ways. 
Otherwise there are a lot of other great looking cafès along the streets and the "Octagon".

Dunedin Railway Station

Take a look at the Dunedin Railway Station. It's a Renaissance style building from 1906. 
You can also take a train trip from there which I haven't done or if you are a fan of chocolate you can visit the Cadbury World.

East of the City head to the Otago Peninsula.

Larnach Castle

First I took the road on the island and went to the Larnach Castle. I only paid to visit the garden of the castle (14NZD). It's subjective, but I wouldn't do it again. It's quite expensive and the garden wasn't worth it in my opinion.
You can pay more and go inside the Castle. It doesn't look too big, though no idea what to expect.

Taiaroa Head

Sunbathing seal

From there head down to the Coast and to the tip of the peninsula to the Royal Albatross Centre. At the beach of Taiaroa Head are quite a lot seals and take care as I nearly stepped on one lying around looking like a stone.
Again it is not the cheapest option (45 NZD), but you can get inside into a viewing building looking at the part of the peninsula where the royal albatrosses breed. 

Tip: Check out the website bookme. I am not sure if you get the entrance cheaper via this website, but you can find many attractions for less money

View from the Albatross Lookout to Dunedin

Sure, if you wait outside at the coast you can also be lucky seeing one flying around. Even when you pay you do not have a guarantee, but I was lucky and one were flying aroung a few times. Quite impressive those huge birds, the male once have a span of up to 3 meters!
Driving back I took the road at the coast, you definitely should take at least once as it's directly at the shore with many many curves ;-)

You can see a little one looking out

 I didn't stay in Dunedin but drove down south a bit further along Scenic Route 55. 
I stayed at Taieri Mouth Camp Ground. Run by a lovely lady living in a campervan and had some funny looking chickens. There is a path 5 min. to the beach, no sandflies (at least when I had been there) and enjoyed a fantastic sunset with a glass of Chardonnay and some bites :-)

Off to the beach

Beautiful end of the day

To give an idea: From Oamaru Camp to Dunedin Camp I drove 215 km that day.

Good morning next day

Moeraki Boulder / NZ

View in front of me

South of Oamaru following Highway 1 you reach the Moeraki Boulder (no entrance) just north of the village Moeraki.

Those boulders are formed by a gradual buildup of minerals. Some cracked open and it looks like dinasaurs eggs, but they show some crystals.

I got there pretty early in the morning and there already waited the first big tourist bus and another one was just arriving.

Being lucky the tourists of the first bus just left and I quickly went down to the beach before the new arrivers :-)
Best is to be there with low tide otherwise many are in the water. 

You can take good pics and it's a short stop on your way to Dunedin. 

The "bus" is coming

Elephant Rocks and Oamaru / NZ

Going on from Mt. Cook you either have the possibility to head to the West Coast or like I did back to the East.

Driving along the 80, in Omarama turning to the West on the 83 passing Lake Banmore and Lake Aviemore.
After you have passed Kurow you can turn off onto Ngapara Road and make a stop at the Elephant Rocks.

The Elephant Rocks are located on a farmers field and you can walk around. They look out of place and are worth a stop.

Elephant Rocks

Elephant Rocks

Not much farther and you are already in Oamaru. You defintely have to make a stop in the city center, having lunch around the corner of the iSite, having a coffee opposite the city hall, walking the little streets for a stroll.

Oamaru city - Church

Oamaru - City hall

Streets of Oamaru

 At around 7 pm you should head south to either Bushy Beach or Katiki Beach to have a look for the yellow-eyed penguins (no entrance).

Bushy Beach, you may not go down in the evening

Oamaru map with pengiun sites

Yellow-eyed penguin on the trail

You need good eyes or a good camera, but you can see them coming out of the ocean for the night.
I had been lucky and one even walked in front of us on the trail :-)

Seals at the beach

Yellow-eyed penguins at the beach

Later you should go to the Blue Penguin Colony back in town.

Sitting on the "cheap" seats looking to the expensive once ;-)

You have the option either to pay quite an amount and you can sit in a kind of arena which is located around the main spot where those little blue penguins get out of the water. 
You can even pay more if you wanna sit exactly where the entrance in a fence is made or you pay less (28 NZD) to sit a few meters away (I sat there and it's perfectly fine). A seal jumping over the fence and shoo us away for its' nights sleep was another highlight ;-)
Or you are not paying anything and you just wait outside of the "Colony building". When I left still some penguins were just crossing the road. 

Do NOT pay any entrance during the day. During the day the penguins are in the ocean and they rest and sleep lying in the water, there is hardly any penguin coming ashore and it really would be a waste of your money. 
At least the money is for saving and protecting the penguins. 

Tip: Check out the website bookme. I am not sure if you get the entrance cheaper via this website, but you can find many attractions for less money

To let you know when you wait outside, you shouldn't take pictures with flash as they can get blind. At least it's what they told us and they are not moving anymore, which is dangerous in case of trafic. 

I have stayed a bit outside of Oamaru on a Campsite called Kakanui Camp Ground. 
Heading south you pass a little village, where you can buy fantastic veggies and jam at the street (at daytime). You see little stores / tables etc. regularly at the road where you can buy fresh food from the farms. A chance you shouldn't miss.    

The Camp ground itself had been very quiet, mine was one of two vans. Laundry, Dryer and shower.  

Mt. Cook / NZ

Also in February, means in summer, I went after my walk to the Observatory at Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook. It is not far to go though no rush. On your trip you drive past Lake Pukaki.

Lake Pukaki

This view is so amazing, that I had to stop several times to enjoy and take lots of photos. With a clear, blue sky you can look across the lake to snowy Mount Cook. Just so incredible.
As everywhere you have several chances to stop next to the road to goggle and photograph.

The road goes alongside the Lake and when you are looking for a campsite you have to turn right before you get into the town.

My fantastic Juicy van

It's a DOC (Department of Conservation) campsite (which are most of the time more basic than those camp parks). At the time of my trips all of them cost 10 NZD / person. You have to drop it into a box, best you carry change with you. 
There is a kitchen, showers and toilets. Later in the day a ranger checks if you have paid, if you didn't have change, no problem it was even possible to pay with Credit Card.

The view from the campsite is also great. Bring warm clothes, it was verryyyyy cold in the evening and night, especially if you are in a tent or a van without power like me.

There are a few walks you can do. I hoped I had done the one directly to Mt. Cook, which I heard is quite hard, but great. I had followed the crowd along the Hooker Valley Walk. It's a nice walk. It's mentioned with 1h35 (one-way). You have to go the same way both directions and it leads you in the direction of Mt. Cook, but as mentioned I would say, everybody is going this way. 

It's straight, though no uphill.

 

To the right you can see the glacier ending (the dirty part)

I only cooled off my feet :-)

At the end of the walk you can bath in the lake with parts of the glacier floating around, you get it it's pretty cold :-)

Mt Cook in the sunset