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Southeast coast of New Zealand 12.-15.12. 2019

Driving east through Central Otago. Speed limit is 100 km/h, which makes travelling faster, but the roads are dangerous to cross.

Cultivated lowlands are usually irrigated but slopes are quite dry.

Altocumulus lenticularis with several layers is indicating that wind is strong high up.

Kakanui Range is separating eastern coast from Central Otago thus often moist and cold air is flowing over them.

Forming föhn wall.

Sunrays back west.

We arrived to Moeraki Boulders in dusk.

There are several tens of boulders lying on the beach.

They are made of more resistant material ...

... and are gradually eroded from the mudstone by coastal erosion.

Mud, clay and silt are cemented by calcite.

But the interior is hollow.

They form as a mineral precipitates around some nucleus. It is estimated that they took 5 million years to form under the Paleocene sea floor.

Sex on the beach.

Some have distinct calcite veins.

That also disintegrate more quickly under the coastal erosion.

The Birth of Venus by Jaroslavo Obbucelli.

We stayed overnight in Trotters Gorge Campsite and were woken up unusual singing of bellbirds.

Despite that the eastern coast of the South Island was extensively cultivated, they left some native forest untouched in steep gorges.

And made hiking tracks through them.

The native vegetation is unique to this part of the world. Lemonwood or tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides) is evergreen endemic tree.

Tree is eating its own climber.

Seeing fern trees for the first time in nature.

Fantail trying to enchant forest visitors.

Densely vegetated native forest.

And even some short caves.

Continuing down south along the coast. Shag Point not far away from Moeraki Beach.

Similar concretions can also be found but these seem to be less stable.

But this place is usually visited for a different attraction.

A colony of fur seals.

A short pit stop for lunch in Dunedin.

Dunedin train station is one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand.

First disappointment about heavy tourism industry of New Zealand at Royal Albatross Centre.

Albatrosses nest on Taiaroa Head, but they wanted almost 50 € to let you walk there.

Having a bit of comfort at the free and literally shitty platform.

This wildlife ... is annoying.

Red-billed gulls are one of the most numerous seagulls here. They are scavengers and are known to sometimes irritate nesting chicks of other birds to regurgitate their last meal to them.

And bigger chicks.

Shags nest on steeper cliffs.

Several penguin colonies live on the peninsula.

Juvenile SUV on the left and a mature on the right.

Swans (Cygnus atratus) are black in this part of the world.

Afternoon hike on sand to Sandfly Bay.

Tree Lupin (Lupinus arboreus) originating from California invaded the sandy coast where it feels the most settled.

Senecio elegans is a naturalised plant from South Africa.

Tree lupine everywhere.

Moving grass leaves create these patterns around them.

One can hide behind sand dunes to watch penguins on the beach.

Sandfly Beach without penguins, and thankfully also without sandflies.

But with stormy sea.

Otago Peninsula is of volcanic origin and has quite rugged landscape.

Mount Charles is the highest point.

Hoopers inlet lagune behind a sand bar.

A quick visit of Tunnel Beach.

High sandstone cliffs.

Increased sandstone weathering along a crack.

There is a tunnel under the cliff.

And the Tunnel Beach on the other side.

Human vs. seal.

How to get down there?

Here is the answer.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

A difficult life of a lazy seal on the beach.

Admiring the cliffs.

While some are trying to be seals,

Others are imitating monkeys and climbing rocks.

or imitating mermaids.

Quite a decent coastal cave behind the corner.

It took us a while to realise why we weren't able to see any penguins so far. They appear in the late afternoon or evening.

A small colony of yellow-eyed penguins live in Roaring bay.

They built a viewing hide not to disturb them.

Completing a busy day with Nugget Point.

Tree nettle, or ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a bigger relative of the common nettle and can deliver a much nastier sting lasting for several days. Its venom can easily kill animals and there is one known human death as well.

What does that sign mean?

Lighthouse at Nugget Point.

The Nuggets from the viewing platform.

Long December summers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Altocumulus undulatus clouds next morning.

A beach close to Jack's Bay.

Viewing platform.

To Jack's Blowhole. The sea was not stormy enough to generate any blowing.

Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) is yet another endemic plant.

Intensive farming just behind the fence of the scenic park. Swarm of seagulls preying on earthworms behind a plowing tractor.

A blind crab. It was attacked by a seagull just a moment ago. It knew where to hit first.

Lunchtime on Purakaunui Beach.

Coverage with native forests gradually increases towards the south.

Mataī tree or black pine (Prumnopitys taxifolia) with a hollow trunk.

Different types of ferns are abundant in these forests. Hound's tongue (Microsorum pustulatum) on the photo.

A path to a waterfall.

The Purakaunui Falls.

Campers are very popular means of travelling for tourists around New Zealand.

The Catlins area has quite an extensive ancient forest with trees older than 1000 years.

Lake Wilkie is a glacial lake slowly filled up with sediments.

A juvenile Lancewood, or horoeka (Pseudopanax crassifolius). It provided Maori with a ready source of poles.

It is a bog lake surrounded by marshes.

Mānuka or tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium) is able to withstand moist conditions at the edge of the lake.

And more mature forest inwards with rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), another conifer.

Arriving at Curio Bay.

Where we will hopefully see the yellow-eyed penguin from a bit closer.

The bay is not only famous for penguins but also for petrified forest.

These trees were flooded by volcanic ash about 170 million years ago turning them to a solid rock.

Yellow-eyed penguins are very shy and some tourists were chasing them around so they installed security cameras and restricted moving.

The waiting paid off. Here goes one.

Bringing food for their chicks that stay in their nests hidden in bushes.

The view was nicer from the platform from a few photos ago.

https://tinyurl.com/uzbfl6p

Press arrow keys forward and backward several times to make penguin jump.

Press arrow keys forward and backward several times to make penguin jump.

Sunset with a couple of native paradise shelduck.

Almost the southernmost point of the South Island

Other side of the Curio Bay, wher dolphins can often be seen.

Campingsite surrounded by flax. Toyota Caryola was taking us around the New Zealand.

Archaic toilets at the campsite.

Lipstick seagull (Larus dominicanus) getting unusually nervous.

We happened to pass by its nest.

Hector dolphins very close to the shore next morning. One is allowed to swim with them. I would have done it if it wasn't so freezing cold.

Gemstone beach much further west close to Orepuki.

It got its name from these colourful stones.

Presumably originating from the upper layer with pebbles.