Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
day Park
( 03-234 8399;
www.colacbaytavern.co.nz
; 15 Colac Bay Rd; meals $15-27, sites from $13, cabins s/d
$33/62; )
is a welcoming spot for a meal of wood-fired pizza or fish and chips, with the
convenience of a decent camping ground with basic rooms out the back.
For more information on Tuatapere and the Western Southland area, see
Riverton & Around
POP 1430
Quiet little Riverton, only 38km short of Invercargill, is worth a lunch stop and, if near-
Antarctic swimming takes your fancy, the
Riverton Rocks
area and
Taramea Bay
are good for a
dip. Across from the beach you will find the
Beach House
(126 Rocks Hwy; mains $16-35;
10am-10pm; )
, a stylish, comfortable cafe famous for seafood, especially its creamy chow-
der. On a sunny summer's day the outside tables are a must. The other 90% of the time,
retire inside to admire the view through the window.
Riverton really does rock, but its fascinating geological make-up is only part of the
story, as you will discover at
Te Hikoi Southern Journey
( 03-234 8260;
www.tehikoi.co.nz
;
adult/child
$6/free; 10am-5pm Oct-Apr, to 4pm May-Sep)
. This cracker little museum relates local stories in
clever and inspiring ways. Oh, that all small-town museums could be this good! Inside
you will also find the
Riverton Visitor Information Centre
, which can assist with maps and herit-
age trails, as well accommodation.
Just along the road in an insanely turquoise building that has been various forms of eat-
ery since 1891,
Mrs Clark's Café
(108 Palmerston St; meals $12-25; 7am-4pm; )
serves thor-
oughly contemporary and delicious daytime food (beaut baking!) alongside ace espresso
and craft beer.
The
South Coast Environment Centre
(
www.sces.org.nz
;
154 Palmerston St)
has a good range of organ-
ic groceries and is the local WWOOF agent.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Invercargill
POP 49,900
This flat and somewhat featureless town tends to inspire ambivalence in its visitors, yet it
satisfies all key requirements as a pit stop between the Catlins, Stewart Island/Rakiura and
