The Catlins
It is a marvelous trip from Wanaka through to the Catlins. The roads are windy and at times quite narrow, but the scenery is fabulous, particularly around Alexandra. Sadly, as driver, you do not have much chance to fully admire it. In five hours you go from the mountains and lakes of Wanaka and Queentown, through gorges with fascinating , colourful rocky outcrops , through the fertile, rather arid area of Alexandra, to the lush native forests of the Catlins. It is an ever-changing spectacle, along with ever-changing weather. As expected, we arrived at our cute little cottage in Papatowai in rain. No worries! The garden looked so green and the tui song welcomed us, despite the dampness! The little batch, self-contained holiday home was really comfortable and only a short walk from the lovely Papatowai Estuary. I have auch happy memories of that place. We camped next to the estuaty in our campervan with Mark and David when they were just one and two and a half years old. Although it rain...