19 Jun Down South

I recently went down to the bottom of the South Island to go to the Bluff Oyster festival. I haven’t been down there for a very long time and I must say it is truly wonderful. We drove down to Dunedin, passing through Oamaru. They have done a great job with the old part of Oamaru and it has a really nice feel. There is a brewery and a distillery there (both excellent) along with several craft shops.

Further south past Balclutha we drove through the Catlins, home of the Moeraki boulders, the petrified forest, lighthouses, waterfalls, sea lions etc. The trip back north through Alexandra, Cromwell and Tekapo was simply spectacular, as snow had recently fallen and the light coating accented the mountains perfectly.

I spent 30 years away from New Zealand and have been back for just the last two. In time gone by I think I just accepted the countryside as normal, but now through new eyes, it looks very different to me; actually it’s probably the most beautiful country you could wish to visit. Naturally I delight in recording it with my camera as well.