Another perfect day in paradise! I take it all back the things I have said about Invercargill not being worth a visit. I was very wrong. The coast just outside Invercargill is just as spectacular as any and there are loads of things to see and visit (particularly on a fine day like we had!).
Our first stop was at the lovely coastal town of Riverton. I could well imagine living there, though of course when the sun is shining and the wind not blowing, everywhere can seem idyllic. I loved the beaches here with their beautiful green rocks.
The contrast between the autumnal colours of the grasses, the turquoise waters and the golden sands was quite dramatic.
On a fine day you can see Stewart Island in the distance. This is a must the next time I visit. I am a bit concerned about the flight or ferry crossing, but must be brave!!
Here below is a pretty typical , older style home from this area, though of course, there are some fairly fancy new places being built.
Just as yesterday provided us with some interesting toilets, today also had its fair share of artistic loos, like this one at Colac Bay
Where there was an equally fantastic bus shelter!
The next stop was Tuatapere, a tiny little town with another elegantly painted public toilet. It was gorgeous outside and extremely clean inside , though without any painting.
In this tiny town there are some wonderfully interesting places to visit. Amongst them art galleries and this fabulous craft shop, named Cwtch (Welsh for hug!). It is run by a very bright and breezy lady and her more serious husband and she makes everything using the wool from her few sheep and the driftwood from the beaches. Her husband is a painter and also is pretty good at carpentry. Humour shines through in all their notices.
Despite promises to myself that I would not buy anything I do not really need, I fell in love with the little chipmunk featured in the photo below. He looks great in my lounge too!!!
For those who love food, museums, shops like Lakeland in GB, this town is for you. The household museum is fantastic and the food just delicious!. Definitely worth going towards Invercargill even just for tea and a piece of cake!
Actually, there is a lot more of course. This lovely beach is called Gemstone Beach.. Apparently you can find semi/precious gems such as garnet, jasper, quartz and nephrite, but we didn't spot any.
The views were breathtaking anyway, so it didn't matter at all!!
The rocks and stones were fabulously colourful, even if they were not semi-precious
and the old pieces of driftwood were really beautiful when you looked at them carefully.
The next really gorgeous bay we went to had an equally cute name, Cosy Nook. It really was a cosy little corner for people to live in and the two or three small cottages there were very sweet, though I am not sure if I would want to live there for ever!
Once again toilets featured, this time Long Drop Lodge, which I have to say was so clean and fresh that you could easily forget that it was a long drop and not a flush toilet. I think I will have to write a toilet guide to New Zealand!!
Last but not least, without a toilet in sight, we enjoyed the final rays of the sun on the beach just outside Invercargill. Here you drive on to the beach and can park anywhere to enjoy this magnificent sight. Of course, what better to do than eat fish and chips, watched enviously by dozens of gulls - they missed out!!!
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