Well it was time to leave Dunedin and head towards Invercargill via the Southern Scenic Route, through an area known as The Catlins. Kiwis speak about this area with an air of reverence, and it is not hard to see why. I wished I had a chauffeur, as the countryside was stunning, and it was little challenging to take it all in whilst keeping my eye on the road at the same time. Rolling green hills, mountains, rain forest and dramatic coastline, it had it all. And a sprinkling of quaint little towns and seaside villages. Nugget Point was quite a sight. A small lighthouse perched on top of what seemed to be an oversized rock. An amazing view along a very rugged coastline. Purakaunui Falls are allegedly the most photographed waterfalls in NZ. Though not large they have a natural beauty about them which is enhanced by the cool rain forest in which they are situated. Obviously I added to the "most photographed" tag. It was hard not to! When you are travelling and the opportunity arises to see/visit something which is unique, then it must be done. And so a visit to Slope Point was a must. This is the southern most point on NZ's South Island. A 20 minute walk through a sheep paddock delivers you to a very rocky and on this day, an extremely windy place, marked by a very unassuming yellow sign to tell you that you have actually arrived at Slope Point. Not much to see other than a very rocky coastline and an ocean that leads to Antarctica. Which no doubt explains why the wind was so bloody cold. My first full day in Invercargill was ANZAC Day, and although I didn't make it to a service, it's clear that Kiwis celebrate it with the same dedication that we do in Australia. One thing I did notice was that they use poppies to mark the day rather than the ANZAC badges that we do in Australia. Invercargill is an interesting place. With a population over 50,000 it's a sizable place, the major city in the south, but it really doesn't have much to offer. In fact most Kiwis I came across spoke of it in less than glowing terms. But it does have some amazing architecture. St Marys Basilica is a landmark that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. With a large copper dome it is an impressive building - until you step inside. It almost feels like there were 2 designers at work here. One for the outside and one for the inside. The old Water Tower can definitely be seen across the city. Originally designed to provide a high pressure water supply to the city it is now simply a tourist attraction. And the First Presbyterian Church displays some very intricate brickwork. Undoubtedly the biggest attraction in Invercargill is Bill Richardson's Transport World. This is a private collection, mainly focused on trucks of all types and from all eras, but also rare vintage cars and other motoring memorabilia. It is an amazing place and a testament to one man's hobby (obsession??) with mechanical things. Numerous locals had told me that if I was going to Invercargill then I had to go to Stewart Island. So not one to ignore local advice, the next morning I boarded the ferry in Bluff for the one hour trip across the Foveaux Strait. A little bit of a swell but a good trip. Almost 90% of the island is a national park and in hindsight I should have spent at least a night there. But as I only had the day I decided to rent an electric bike so that I could cover as much area as I could. It had been a long time since I had been on aa bike and it showed. Thank god for that little electric motor purring away at the front. From Ackers Point to Horseshoe bay I put in a few kilometres by both bike and foot. A few beers in the local hotel while I waited for my ferry was a fitting way to end the day. From Invercargill I'm headed to the West Coast, via the next section of the Southern Scenic Route through Te Anau and an overnight stop at Wanaka. No doubt it will be another change of scenery.