When it involves New Zealand, it’s not significantly laborious to go off the grid. In the eyes of the remainder of the world (I’m taking a look at you, Australia), New Zealand IS off the grid. In reality, it’s usually left off the map!
But in the case of touring round this stunning island nation on the fringe of the world, there are well-trodden trails and, nicely, not-so-well-trodden trails. The Catlins fall into the latter. At the underside of the gorgeous South Island, you’ll discover a rugged and noteworthy shoreline. Some of the nation’s most unusual wildlife name the Catlins house.
Humans have occupied the Catlins for no less than a thousand years. Named after the Catlin River, named after Captain Edward Cattlin, a whaler who settled right here, it was recognized and occupied by Māori for a lot longer.
Serene and peaceable, the Catlins is the place that deserves a gradual go to, the place you park up and keep some time.
Apart from Stewart Island, nothing stands between the Catlins and Antarctica, which generally means the climate will get wild, which I secretly love.
I like waking as much as the sound of rain on the roof. When the skies darken, harkening the arrival of a storm. It makes me consider my childhood within the South within the US with our every day afternoon summer time thunderstorms. For me, dramatic climate has all the time evoked a sense of nostalgia.
It speaks to my introverted character and excuse to bundle up and keep inside and skim by the glow of a heat lamp. To gentle candles and hibernate. I feel the climate has a robust affect on our emotional well-being, and winter storms make me really feel relaxed.
If you’re like me and search beautiful but stress-free locations, look no additional than the Catlins. Here you’ve got the ocean, wild seashores, distinctive wildlife, historic forests, stunning waterfalls, epic climate, and never many individuals. It’s a recipe for unwinding.
Go off the grid at Beresford Heights
First, in case you’re going to go down south to the Catlins to loosen up and unwind, you gotta head straight for Beresford Heights. You guys know that charming, off-the-grid getaways are my factor. Beresford Heights ticks all of the packing containers after which some.
Inland close to Owaka, it’s an enthralling new cabin constructed 400 meters above sea degree, looking over the rolling hills of the Catlins. Tucked away on the perfect view of the third-generation Burgess household farm, you’ll be able to see how a lot love went into constructing it. Since it’s a working farm, they’ll transport you and all of your stuff in a comfortable ATV as much as the cabin.
Unlike many locations within the Catlins, there’s telephone reception and wifi, so it’s tremendous simple to plan to get round. Not that you simply’re going to need to depart.
Did I point out the outside spa on the deck? Heaven. Go for no less than two days, however the longer, the higher.
Get up brilliant and early to search for uncommon penguins with the unbelievable people at Mohua Park
Another prime choose for locations to nest whereas down within the Catlins must be Mohua Park, which has tremendous cute eco cottages overlooking the rolling hills of the Catlins. Hidden amongst the bush, it’s such as you’re getting away into nature with out tenting.
Mohua Park provides 4 kilometers of personal pure strolling tracks to discover and luxuriate in.
With a ardour for wildlife and taking care of the land, Tracy and Mike love the Catlins via and thru. There are even QE11 covenants on the land at Mohua Park. They run many conservation and sustainability initiatives at Mohua Park, like trapping pests, saving power and water, even the constructing supplies, working in the direction of producing zero waste, and replanting native bushes.
If you get the prospect, join one among their dawn excursions to exit to a secret spot to look at for the uncommon hoiho or yellow-eyed penguin. Considered to be the rarest penguin on this planet, the hoiho will be discovered within the Catlins by those that know the place to look.
With solely a pair thousand yellow-eyed penguins left on this planet, they’re thought of to be in decline. The primary causes for the declining inhabitants are Dogs, human disturbance, local weather change, fisheries interactions, predation, and illness. Luckily DOC, Ngāi Tahu, and native trusts have been working laborious to guard the hoiho.
This work contains predator management, monitoring their nests, treating them for illness and damage, intervening to forestall hunger, and restoring their native habitats.
Chase some waterfalls
For me, I all the time consider the Catlins because the land of waterfalls and rainbows. Both will be present in abundance right here.
This previous summer time was one of many driest summers I can keep in mind right here in New Zealand. Down within the Catlins, the waterfalls had shrunk in comparison with their regular thundering falls. Nevertheless, they’re simply as stunning, and it meant you would stand up shut and private with them.
The showstopper of waterfalls within the Catlins is certainly Purakaunui Falls, an iconic three-tiered waterfall that you’ll seemingly acknowledge from Instagram. McLean Falls, Matai Falls, and Koropuku Falls are others which can be simply as stunning.
Visit essentially the most well-known lighthouse in New Zealand at Nugget Point
Along with the waterfalls and yellow-eyed penguins, Nugget Point is probably going the opposite prime contender for Catlins must-dos. A wildlife reserve taken care of by DOC; the views are simply unimaginable. An simple and flat stroll will lead you out to the headlands from the carpark. There are wonderful views alongside your complete stroll. If you pause to look down, you’ll see many fur seals enjoying within the surf, their barks echoing within the wind.
With its precarious place and good location, you’ll be able to usually spot lots of our iconic seabirds right here, from tītī, penguins, gannets, and even royal spoonbills. Roaring Bay is house to some pairs of yellow-eyed penguins on the south coast of the tip of Nugget Point. The greatest time to see them is within the late afternoon from a cover after they come again from being at sea all day feeding.
Like so many locations in New Zealand, the English names are nearly as lazy as you may get. This steep headland has a lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets, aka the Nuggets. Otago was well-known for its gold rush a century in the past; I suppose the rocks reminded folks of gold nuggets, together with Captain Cook, who named them lengthy earlier than settlers arrived. In Māori it’s often known as Tokatā.
Shipping has discovered the Catlins coast notoriously precarious. Those huge Antarctic southerly winds additionally deliver some huge swells. Many shipwrecks have occurred on the headlands protruding into the ocean. The lighthouse at Nugget Point was constructed in 1869 to guard the boats working across the wild Otago shoreline.
Sitting at meters above sea degree, the lighthouse was constructed from native stone and stands slightly below ten meters tall. First illuminated by an oil burner, then diesel-generated electrical energy to central energy, it was lastly automated in 1989.
Nowadays, whereas folks flock to the lighthouse, they’re coming extra for the views past it, that are spectacular.
Go for a forest stroll
When folks consider the Catlins, they usually consider the ocean. I completely get it; the Catlins shoreline is marvelous.
But in case you ask me, I like the inland forest right here. So a lot of the native forests have lengthy been cleared on the South Island to make approach for wide-scale farming. This space is now house to the most important expanse of native forest left on the South Island’s east coast. The forests of the Catlins had been one of many final locations the place the enormous flightless chicken, the moa, referred to as house. In legend, the maeroero (wild giants) inhabited the Catlins’ forests additional inland. Even at present, it evokes a sense of mysticism right here.
Large and historic podocarps (hardwoods) reminiscent of rimu, matai, totara, and kahikatea beautify the decrease components of the Catlins. One of my favourite forest walks within the Catlins is round Lake Wilkie, a bathroom/swamp house to many native bushes and birds.
Check out the ocean lions at Cannibal Bay
One of my favourite locations to search for the massive lumbering sea lions that decision the Catlins house is at Cannibal Bay. Another candidate for a PC title change, Cannibal Bay, is positioned down eight kilometers of gravel highway. Beautiful white sand meets attractive blue water, but it surely’s not significantly inviting for a swim until you are feeling like swimming with the ocean lions.
At the far finish of Cannibal Bay, you’ll discover a monitor main over the dunes to Surat Bay. Sea lions are frequent in each locations; simply don’t get too shut. The common rule is 20 meters distance. Keep an eye fixed out for them; they wish to lounge even up within the dunes and canopy themselves with sand.
They’re surprisingly quick, contemplating their dimension. I do know from expertise.
The Catlins is a spot in New Zealand I don’t assume I’ll ever tire of visiting. The Catlins are stunning within the sunshine and exquisite within the rain. It doesn’t matter the climate or time of 12 months. It’s all the time particular down this manner.
From the beautiful lengthy seashores to the uncrowded forests, the traditional fossils, and distinctive wildlife, the Catlins beckons all those that get pleasure from and respect nature. Southland is house to so many epic adventures; simply be sure to put the Catlins on the listing!
Have you ever been to the Catlins? Do you’ve got a spot you wish to go to by the seaside to unwind? Share!
Many due to Great South for internet hosting me in Southland; like all the time, I’m protecting it actual – like you would anticipate much less from me!