Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.niagarafallscafe.co.nz
; 256 Niagara-Waikawa Rd, Niagara; lunch mains $13-27, dinner $23-35;
8am-10pm; )
Located in an old schoolhouse, this is a friendly spot to linger over
coffee and a scone, or tuck into homemade meals from breakfast through dinner. Tasty
lamb burgers are sandwiched into freshly baked bread, and there's blue cod and chowder
as well as plenty of vegetarian options. Bask in the grassy garden with a local craft beer
or fine wine.
Papatowai to Balclutha
From Papatowai, follow the highway north to
Matai Falls
(a 30-minute return walk) on
the Maclennan River, then head southeast on the signposted road to the tiered
Purakaunui Falls
(20 minutes return). Both falls are reached via cool, dark forest walks
through totara and tree fern.
Continue along the gravel road from Purakaunui Falls to the 55m-deep
Jack's
Blowhole
. In the middle of a paddock 200m from the sea but connected by a subter-
ranean cavern, this huge cauldron was named after Chief Tuhawaiki, nicknamed Bloody
Jack for his cussin'. It's a fairly brisk 30-minute walk each way.
Owaka
is the Catlins' main town (population a hefty 303), bolstered by the
Catlins
Info Centre & Owaka Museum
(adult/child $5/free; 9.30am-1pm & 1.30-4.30pm Mon-Fri,
10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
, which houses displays on local history. The Catlins' reputation as a
shipwreck coast is explained in video presentations. A petrol station, Four Square super-
market with an ATM, and several run-of-the-mill places to eat make Owaka a useful spot
for stocking up before moving on.
Pounawea
, 4km east, is a beautiful hamlet on the edge of the Catlins River Estuary.
Just across the inlet is
Surat Bay
, notable for the sea lions that lie around the beach
between here and
Cannibal Bay
, an hour's beach walk away.
Heading north from Owaka, detour off SH92 to
Nugget Point
and walk out to the
lighthouse. This is the king of the Catlins viewpoints, made all the more interesting by
the wave-thrashed cliffs, toothy nuggets, seals and sea lions lolling about below. There's
also plenty of birdlife, such as soaring shearwaters and spoonbills huddling in the lea of
the breeze.
Just shy of the Nugget Point car park is the car park for
Roaring Bay
, where a well-
placed hide allows you to see yellow-eyed penguins coming ashore (best two hours be-
fore sunset). Obey all signs: as you can see, this is a pretty precarious existence. If you
per person $30)
are run by the folks at Nugget View & Kaka Point Motels.
