Yellow Eyed Penguin

Our day started in Invercargill, the weather had cleared somewhat and instead of torrential rain we were left with puddles. Positive, when life is based around camper ;-)

Still windy tho, which was well and truly apparent when we left to visit Bluff (not quite the most Southern most point in NZ. Famous for the sign tho, so we had to go there, and yes, blustery.

Then back in the camper and north (well, almost south actually) to the Catlin's, and area I have been meaning to visit for many years. First stop, Waipapa Point, and yes, very very windy. So we had lunch first. The site of NZ worst civilian shipwreck in 1881 when the Tararua founded a d 131 lives were lost. And now one of only two operational wooden lighthouse of that era. Very awesome.

Then north again to Curio Bay and the fossilised Forests. Quite fascinating, tree remnants fossilised in the tidal zone, quite unique apparently. Then after some vacillation, including a false start north, we decided to settle at the Curio bay campground. Good call. It's "very quirky" to say the least, but then at $37 per night you could understand why. Awesome location, power, very basic showers and kitchens. Which in reality, is good, love the location.

And the best thing, we went back to the fossilised Forest to wait for the penguins, which don't always show. But tonight they did. Only about 300 breeding pairs globally left, apparently the world's rarest penguin. And this guy approached me, probably only about 4 metres away.

Awesome. A lifetime experience