Enchanted Forests

 

5:15 alarm for a 5:45 departure to Nugget Point, a peninsula sticking out onto the Pacific Ocean where the east coast becomes the south coast. It was just getting light when we arrived and as we walked out towards the lighthouse on the headland, the wind got stronger and stronger. There were two potential views, the group divided themselves about 50/50 between the two. We walked beyond the lighthouse to a platform overlooking the headland and the rocks beyond. As the sky lightened in the east, we debated where the next land would be if you went straight out to sea – the answer appears to be the Antarctic Peninsula on the other side of the world.

Some fur seals played in the water below us, a few pups looked for shelter from the wind on the rocks above the waves.

The wind was so strong that the planned long exposure shots of the sunrise were impossible so we got what we could and headed back to the van. I took a few minutes to photograph some waves hitting the dark sand beach below us – Roaring Bay.

We got back to the hotel about 9:45, which left is with 15 minutes to get breakfast. The food and service made Fawlty Towers look slick, they were out of pancakes, out of bacon and we had to beg for coffee.

The sky was blue and almost clear so we took a few hours off until the forecast clouds arrived then headed out to look at a couple of waterfalls.
The first, Purakaunui Falls, were a short walk form the car park. The river fell down a series of wide ledges. The water levels were quite low – because it hasn’t rained much – but it was still impressive. We politely took turns with our tripods in the river to get the best angle. The trees and plants surrounding the river were a rich green colour; the forest had a musty smell – a bit mushroomy.

On the way to the second falls we passed Florence Hill Lookout. The coastline in this area has high cliffs and large beaches; the view here was over Tautuku Bay, a long deserted sandy beach.

We’d planned to have a quick lunch at the Frog café near the second falls. It’s closed Wednesday afternoons from April 5th – bad timing!

We carried on to McLean Falls. These are about 20 minutes walk through another dense lush green forest. The path crosses the river as it bubbles over lots of large rocks and boulders. The lower falls are quite a compact cascade in a deep green ravine; the upper falls have a large drop at the top and lots of smaller twists and turns on the way down.

It was about an hour drive back to town so we decided to drop our bags off and head straight to dinner.

Balclutha is quite a rough and ready town which traditionally existed mainly to service the farms in the area. It does however have one of the best Indian restaurants in New Zealand. One family produces really good take-aways and sit-down food. Service was a bit slow bit the food was really good. If you’re ever in Balclutha check them out!