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Slope Point > Invercargill
Today we are travelling from Dunedin to Invercargill taking the South Scenic Route along the southern tip of the South Island known as The Catlins. Invercargill is less than 200km drive away, so today we can take our time leaving Dunedin and viewing all the lookouts and bays.
Outside the Cadbury Chocolate Factory
Our first must-see stop of the day is the Dunedin Cadbury Factory. This factory supplies all of New Zealand and their obsession with Cadbury chocolate. I myself am more of a Hershey fan, but why the heck not? It’s a chocolate factory after all. Unfortunately, it was a public holiday and the factory was not in operation, but they still had a mini 45 minute tour available.
Tour Window Display at the Cadbury Factory
Biggest Pile of Crunch Bars
Inside the Cadbury Factory
Chocolate Seals
We were greeted by an adorable old man dressed in purple overalls and hat. In his pockets were fistfuls of chocolate ready to give out when his questions were answered correctly – mostly for the kiddos on the tour.
Through the entrance was a gallery of the facility’s history. The factory began as a bakery owned and operated by a local kiwi. When he died, the business was sold to Cadbury. While watching the introductory video, we were given a bag of candy bars, mostly no-name brands with different flavours of marshmallow coated with the Cadbury chocolate.
Next, we were taken through the public area of the factory given a lesson on how chocolate’s made and given a sample cup. We had two. The kids on the tour were really buzzing now.
Our last stop of the tour we entered the chocolate silo climbing up 70+ stairs. I have never smelled such an intense smell of chocolate upon entering a door. We were given instructions to climb the stairs away from the rails because they were covered in chocolate. Our tour guide stopped us mid-walk and positioned us as far back from the rails as possible. The tour guide instructed to yell, “Chocolate”. As soon as this happened, one ton of chocolate dropped in front of us into a large vat below our platform. If you stood too closely to the edge, chocolate was sure to get on you.
After the tour, we hit up the gift shop where I bought chocolate lip balm and a new product called Cadbury Hazelnut Mousse, simply a Cadbury dairy milk bar with pockets of hazelnut flavoured mousse. These few Cadbury items we picked up lasted us the entire trip. I don't think I'll be eating Cadbury for a while.
So Much Cadbury to Choose From!
Entrance to Speight's Beer Factory
After the tour we rushed over the Speight’s brewery to jump onto a 12pm tour. We were given the unfortunate news that it was full and that the next available time would be 4pm. It’s too bad because this particular brand of beer is the pride of the South Island. We would not have time to wait because we had so many stops ahead, but there was another brewery I have my sights set on in Greymouth on the west coast.
Public Water Fountain at Speight's
Too Bad We Couldn't Go On The Tour
Beautiful Church in the City Centre
I really like Dunedin. It’s a quaint coastal town with a great central district full of historical buildings and plenty of unique local drinking and eating establishments. We’ll have to come back to Dunedin and take the brewery tour and see more of the Otago Peninsula, perhaps on a cruise from Australia.
Nugget Point Welcome Stone
Back on the road, we followed a map given to us by the hostel manager. He circled a few points of interest along the way to Invercargill. The first circle on the map was Nugget Point. This is a reserve famous for its fur seal colony and lighthouse. Although it is summer, it was a cold, but clear day. We walked about 1km to the lighthouse on a path right on the edge of the cliff. I get really nervous around cliffs, constantly tugging Dave to not get too close to the edge.
Steep Cliffs
Path to the Lighthouse
We stopped where we could to view the seal colony below. Once at the lighthouse, we could view the nuggets of rocks with numerous seals sunbathing although we were cold in the 10 degree weather. Good thing seals have the second thickest coat in the animal kingdom next to the sea otter.
Standing at Nugget Point
Guess Why It's Called Nugget Point
Great Platform to View Nugget Point
The Other Side of Nugget Point
Roadtrippin' All Day
After Nugget Point we took to the gravel roads again to our next destination. We wanted to see all the lookouts, but this was a tough decision because:
A) they slow us down
B) rocks could hit our windshield and
C) our hub caps were held together by a zip tie
But if we wanted to see anything coastal away from the main highway that is about 20km inland, we had to face the gravel roads. At least there are a lot of bays to stop at.
Stop Over at a Half-Moon Bay
Inland Petrified Forest
Our next circle on the map was Curio Bay where there was a 180 million year old petrified forest on the beach. The forest became petrified because of the volcanic ash from the ground dirt. Overtime the trees grew in the area, but quickly petrified due to bad soil. Although the area looked devastated, it looked like something out of Lord of the Rings. The landscape was grey and white on the edge of the ocean.
Can You Spot the Three Penguins?
A Popular Trio
They were so comfortable in front of the crowd of 30 penguin paparazzi. We observed them for about an hour taking in every moment because we would probably never see this again in our lifetime. Plus we were only taking photos with my mobile phone, so the more pictures we have, the better chance there will actually be a good one in the mix.
As Close As I Could Get
A Fourth Penguin Behind Us
Amazing Landscape of Petrified Forest and Curio Bay
Algae Creeping Into The Cracks
So Comfortable with the Crowds
Spinach Fettuccine Algae
Imitating the Penguins
Stunning Sandbar at Porpoise Bay
Overhearing another couple on the steps out of the Curio Bay, we heard there were dolphin’s in the next bay over called Porpoise Bay, only a 5 minute drive away.
Can You Spot the Dolphin?
Too Excited!
We parked at the bay and found dozens of people on the beach pointing in the water. There were herds of Hector’s Dolphins, the smallest dolphins in the world, hunting in threes. It was a spectacular sight to see dolphins so close in hunting formation. In the water was also a couple kayaking to get closer to the dolphins. What they didn’t know was around their kayak hunting too was a solo sea lion. At first it looked like it was playing around the kayaking getting as much attention as the dolphins. But then it got aggressive and began chasing the kayakers. The couple paddled hard towards the shore and as they hit the bank and scrambled out of their kayak, the sea lion jumped up and growled for the crowd to see. The look on the couple’s faces was priceless. Stupidly enough, the couple got back into their kayak and began paddling around the dolphins again. Territorial and aggressive, the sea lion began chasing them again. This time they caught on early and kayaked across the bay with the sea lion right on their tail. Again, they scrambled out of their kayak and watched the sea lion continue its fishing trip around the bay alongside the herds of dolphins. It was like we were watching National Geographic right in front of us and nature won.
Most Southern Point of the South Island
Back on the gravel road again, we drove towards Slope Point. A bit disgruntled about the gravel road, we thought past it because we were going to the most southern tip of the South Island.
Once parked, there was still a 1.5k walk to the point. Antsy from sitting in the car for so long, we got some exercise in and jogged all the way to the point. It was an amazing sight. We were the only ones there surrounded by ocean and rocks on one side and rolling hills on the other side. And we made it just in time for sunset.
Sitting on the Edge
Checking Wind Direction
Man With Nature
It Gets Breezy Out Here
Field of Sheep
View From Our Motel Room in Invercargill
From a chocolate tour to seeing penguins, dolphins and a sea lion, we were very proud of ourselves. We jam packed as much as we could in and made to Invercargill just in time for dinner. We bought an Otago region Pinot Noir, a 6 pack of Speight's and take-out pizza from Hell Pizza and reflected on such an amazing day.
Trip Extras:
- Must take Cadbury Tour and Speight's Brewery Tour
- Enjoy Dunedin City Centre
- Visit the lighthouse at Nugget Point
- View the Yellow-eyed Penguins and Petrified Forest at Curio Bay
- Observe the dolphins at Porpoise Bay
- Reach the most southern tip of the South Island at Slope Point
- Have the Wrath pizza with everything from Hell Pizza
- Invercargill Motel: Monarch Motel ($90 for double room with kitchen)
2 comments:
You have been to Nugget Point?!! Its long gone now but an old country house in the sand dunes was where we used to holiday as kids. It was/is such a great place.
That must have been amazing Bruce! I love the Catlins!
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