2010 Queens Birthday - Click a picture to see a larger view.

Queens Birthday weekend weather forecast wasn't promising, but we decided to head way and hope for the best.
Leaving home Saturday at 10:30, we drove south, stopping first at Gore and The Old Railway Station Cafe' where we were serenaded by a Country Music group. Not as unusual as you may think, it was Country Music Festival here this weekend, on every street corner and in between there were music buskers trying their luck. After a nice coffee and muffin, we took our leave, but unknowingly left behind our detailed travel map of Southland.

Anyway, we took the back roads to Winton, stopping to look over Mini Deans recently erected headstone, really just a plaque marking her resting place, after 100 or so years of an unmarked plot.

We took more back roads through Nightcaps and Ohai, to see if their ghost town myth was correct. Its not of course, they must have communities of 4-500 people living there, while most of the houses are old, they are in good order, most of them. I reckon in 10-20 years it will become a historic town, with properties commanding good prices!

It was getting dark and we had travelled 250km, time to stop for the night at Tuatapere, home of the famous NZ Sausage. After booking into the new motorcamp, we took a walk of the town, all but one of the shops were closed, including the Sausage store.

Sunday morning we were on the road at 9am, driving at touring speed, we stopped at all the little nooks and cranny by roads, checking out anything that had a heritage trail signpost. The lost AA roadmap would have made things easier, but we managed to get around without getting lost. The weather was still overcast and cool, no wind, no rain either. We eventually arrived at Colic Bay where we stopped for an early lunch at The Pavilion, a restored Cafe' come dining room, overlooking the cold and calm waters of the bay.

Then on to Riverton, took a drive then walked to a vantage point overlooking The Rocks. Returning to Riverton, we inquired about staying overnight at two places in the Catlins, but there was no answer to our phone calls. We eventually drove the most direct route to McLean Falls and after 90min or so arrived there. Took a walk to the falls, then returned in fading light and light rain to our motorhome.

 

I had driven more than I anticipated for the day, and was keen to find a rest spot for the night. The Whistling Tree camping ground was closed, so too the Papatowai Camp. The weather deteriorated further, we made it to Puunawea motorcamp just on dark, settling in for the night with heavy rain outside. Monday morning was no better weather wise, we took a detour to Jacks Blowhole but the carpark was 500M away from the blowholes, the sheeting rain didnt invite us any further, so we turned around and headed home.