It rained last night, but it was sunny this morning when we took our walk to McLean Falls. The track was muddy but the falls were worth it.

Then we started our windy and winding drive along the coastline. We stopped at Porpoise Bay to look for Hector’s dolphins but didn’t see any. We drove further and stopped at Curio Bay to see the petrified forest which is visible during low tide. The fossil forest is 160 million years old. We then detoured to Slope Point which is the southern most part of South Island.

We continued on to Invercargill and arrived at the Southland Museum in time to see the feeding of the tuatara. A little girl had brought a bucket of grubs for their supper. The ancient and rare reptiles can live to 150 years old; the exhibit includes Henry who is over 100 and doing well.

We also enjoyed the Burt Monro exhibit. Burt lived in Invercargill, and they have “The World’s Fastest Indian” on display. Connie gave us the movie a couple of months ago, so the exhibit was much more meaningful. Burt set the world record on his Indian motorcycle at Bonneville Flats in the 60s but the bike was a 1920 model --- and he was in his 70s when he did it!

The museum included a fine exhibition about the subantarctic islands between NZ and the Antartic. It even included a mock sailing vessel which moved from side to side when you went on deck.

We then walked through Queen’s Park before having a delicious dinner at a seafood restaurant.