Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well.

From Milford Sound we headed south, first stop was Invercargil right in the south, not really much to do here, felt like proper farmer land. Actually when driving through all the fields and farmland really looked like home made you almost feel a bit homesick. Stopped at Bluff which is the most southerly town in NZ, had good views out over the sea and we could jusat make out Stewart island.

Our main reason for coming down here was to drive along the Catlins coast and to see loads of wildlife, it didnt disappoint. The roads were really quiet with hardly any people about. When we firsst stopped at an old lighthouse we were the only ones there so we thought we would just wander along the beach. Having just walked down there we stumbled across a massive seal lying in the sand, it was only about 15 mts away, stood watching it for a while then another one appeared out of the sea, funny watching them walk. Thought they were going to fight so we ran away like idiots but they wereoly kissing. It was great seeing them in the wild like that with noone else around and that was only the start.

The next morning we went to Purpoise Bay to see the Hector dolphins (which are really small and very rare) surfing in the waves, they looked really cool. Did loads of stops and little walks to see waterfalls esp the P (something) waterall which the most photgraphed waterfall in NZ. Saw yet more wildlife, again we were just walking along the beach at Roaring Bay when we saw what we thought was just a big rock that was until it moved and it was actually a huge sea lion, he was massive led right up in the sand dunes, problem was though they say you arent supposed to get between them and the sea as its there means of escape (not that they are even afraid of humans) and were it was lying we didnt really have much choice. Argh!!! Apparently they can move quite fast so when it stood it we moved very swiftly away (only for it to do a poo right in front of us, lovely). Headed to Nugget Point and its lighthouse, saw yet more seals. Can also see yellow eyed penguins here (again very rare) and we were lucky enough to see one, had only been waiting for about 10 mins as well, some people had been there for about 2 hours and that was the first one they had seen. good timing on our part. It waddled out of the sea into the rocks on the beach, looked really cute, even managed to get a photo.

Once we had left Nugget Point that was the end of the Catlins coast which had been brill saw so much wildlife in its own environment and hardly any other people about.

Next stop Dunedin, the Scottish city.

Take care

Tatey and Lou xxx