Jon Algie 
Papatowai Beach, about halfway along the main road through the Catlins, is an awesome place to stop while exploring the area. The beach is great, it’s right next to camping ground and there’s also a unique attraction nearby (you’ll have to keep reading to find out). Papatowai Beach There are heaps of beaches in the … Read more
I love a good road-side viewpoint. Sometimes it’s nice to not have to walk anywhere – to open your car door and be greeted with a view you would have walked hours to see. McCracken’s Rest, on the southern coast, is one such place. From the small wooden viewing platform you get sweeping views of … Read more
On the eastern shores of Te Wae Wae Bay sits a small section of sand called Gemstone Beach. It’s one of the most popular spots on the road between Invercargill and Te Anau (part of the Southern Scenic Route) and you can visit it in about 5 minutes if you want. Thinking of heading to … Read more
I’ve been to a few “Monkey Islands” in my time, and they’ve always contained actual monkeys. You’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting to see them at Southland’s Monkey Island though, so I’ll tell you what you can see there instead. Where is Monkey Island? Monkey Island is on the southern coast of New Zealand’s South … Read more
The Kepler Track is one of the easier Great Walks to plan and walk, making it a great option for anyone looking to get into some multi-day hiking in New Zealand. There’s still a lot of planning involved, and some big decisions to make, and that’s where I come in! We hiked the Kepler Track … Read more
Day 3 of the Kepler Track, from Iris Burn Hut to Rainbow Reach, mostly takes you through the forest and is a bit more low-key than the first two days. That doesn’t mean it’s uninteresting or easy though! It’s a long day of walking (you can spend an extra day at Moturau Hut, as many … Read more
Day 2 of the Kepler Track is generally known as the best day in terms of views. The walk from Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut takes you along a series of ridges with beautiful views of the mountains surrounding them. Well, that is if you can see it all through the clouds! Luxmore Hut … Read more
The Kepler Track is one of 9 “Great Walks” in New Zealand. It’s a 3-4-day hike through mossy forests, mountain ridges and green valleys and, to be honest, it was pretty hard. I won’t go into too many details here though (I’ll be writing another post for all those) – this is just to show … Read more
There are several waterfalls in the Catlins, and most are just a short walk from the main road. The Waipohatu Waterfall Track is a little more challenging than the rest, but the waterfalls (there are two) are beautiful and it’s a lot quieter and more off the beaten path than the others. Thinking of adding … Read more
The southern coast of New Zealand, roughly the stretch of road between Invercargill and Tuatapere, is home to lots of beaches and bays, and Colac Bay is one of the most popular. There are some nice-looking holiday houses there and a couple of places to eat and drink – and the beach is pretty good … Read more