Tag Archives: Otago

Kaka Point – The Catlins – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Wednesday 11/03/2026   Kaka Point Bush Walk

                                               Kaka Point Scenic Reserve                                         

                                               The Catlins

                                               Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                               Kāi Tahu* (Ngāi Tahu people)                             

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega

We parked at the campground and stepped onto the Kākā Point Bush Walk on a mild, partly cloudy March day — cool in the shade but warm where the sun broke through. The track is a well-formed, compacted gravel loop of about 1.6 kilometres, wide and flat throughout. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, and very easy underfoot with only gentle undulations.

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Bacon Track – Harbour Cone – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Monday 9/03/2026   Hereweka Harbour Cone Track – Bacon Track – Smiths Creek – Hereweka / Harbour Cone (315m) – Coffee Rock – Highcliff Road

                                      Hereweka / Harbour Cone – Bacon Track – Smiths Creek Circuit

                                      Hereweka / Harbour Cone Reserve, Otago Peninsula

                                      Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                      Ōtākou (Kāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu ki Ōtākou people)

Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the end of Bacon Street in Broad Bay, where the Bacon Track starts from a quiet residential road and heads up through farm paddocks towards the 315-metre summit of Hereweka / Harbour Cone. The weather was perfect — clear skies, a light breeze off Otago Harbour, and warm enough for short sleeves.

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Royal Albatross Centre – Harrington Point – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Sunday 8/03/2026   Harrington Point Road – Waiwhakaheke Seabird Lookout – Taiaroa Viewing Platform – Royal Albatross Centre

                                     Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve

                                     Harrington Point, Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha country (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha people)                               

Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove the length of Harrington Point Road to its end at Taiaroa Head, where the bitumen runs out at the Royal Albatross Centre car park and the open Pacific announces itself with a steady southerly push. A mild, partly cloudy late-summer day — around 17 degrees — made for comfortable walking.

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Nugget Point – Catlins Coastal Area – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Wednesday 11/03/2026   Kaimātaitai Carpark – Nugget Point/Tokata Walk – Tokata Lighthouse (Nugget Point Lighthouse, 9 m tower, first lit 1870) – Viewing Platform – The Nuggets – The Nuggets Road – Roaring Bay Track – Roaring Bay Penguin Viewing Hide – Roaring Bay – Molyneux Bay

                                               Nugget Point/Tokata Walk; Roaring Bay Walk
                                               Nugget Point Totāra Scenic Reserve, Catlins Coastal Area

                                               Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                               Kāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu people)                      

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the Kaimātaitai carpark on a crisp, mostly fine morning with a north-westerly breeze and thin cloud — typical changeable Catlins weather in early March. The Nugget Point/Tokata Walk starts from the carpark and heads gently uphill along a wide, well-formed gravel path. It’s more like a coastal lane than a bush track, firm underfoot and easy walking despite the steady climb out along the headland.

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Harrington Point Cruise – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Monday 9/03/2026   Eden Wilderness Cruises Office Harbour – Te Rauone Beach – The Spit – Otekiho Beach – Pilots Beach – Taiaroa Head – South Pacific Ocean

                                       Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve, Harington Point

                                       Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                       Otago Harbour – South Pacific Ocean

                                       Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                       Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha country (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha people)                               

                                                                  

Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We departed from the Eden Wildlife Cruises wharf on a calm, clear morning with a small swell and light winds — the harbour was smooth with just gentle ripples as we headed out past Te Rauone Beach. The sky was clearing from high cloud, and the light was already brightening nicely.

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Tunnel Beach Walk – Tunnel Beach – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 6/03/2026   Tunnel Beach Car Park, Green Island Bush Road – Tunnel Beach Walk – Tunnel Beach – Tunnel (hand-carved, 1870s) – Natural Rock Arch – Clifftop Track – Forbury Head – Blowhole – Second Beach – Second Beach Track – St Clair Esplanade / St Clair Beach (Whakahekerau                                 

                                   Tunnel Beach Recreation Reserve (Doc) / South Dunedin Coastal Cliffs

                                   Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                   Ngãi Tahu / Kãi Tahu Country (Ngãi Tahu / Kãi Tahu people)

                         

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

From the gravel car park at the end of Green Island Bush Road — a clifftop paddock perched some 139 metres above the Southern Ocean — the Tunnel Beach Walk plunges immediately downhill on a well-formed, steep gravel single track. Five successive viewpoints, each a fenced clifftop “nest”, serve up progressively wider panoramas of sculpted sandstone headlands. Continue reading →

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Diamond Lake – Rocky Mountain – Queenstown Lakes District

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Monday 2/03/2026   Diamond Lake Car Park – Wānaka–Mt Aspiring Road – Diamond Lake Loop Track – Lower Circuit Track – Lake Wānaka Lookout Track – Rocky Mountain Track – Diamond Lake Bird View – Lake Wānaka Lookout – Diamond Lake – Schist bluffs – Rocky Mountain (775 m) – Kā Tiritiri o te Moana / Southern Alps – Mount Aspiring / Tititea (3,033 m) – Lake Wānaka – Mou Waho – Mou Tapu – Te Peka Karara – Ruby Island – Glendhu Bay – The Peninsula – Diamond Lake Car Park

                                        Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track

                                        Diamond Lake Conservation Area, Queenstown Lakes District, Otago, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                        Kāi Tahu ki Otago Country (Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu)

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report),  Pablo Ureña Vega

We decided to do a slightly easier walk today after a big climb on the previous days. It was a 20-minute drive from Wanaka to the trailhead, and there was plenty of parking.

The trail climbed up from the carpark, and we were soon passing Diamond Lake, of which we had excellent views a little further along the trail. Looking from above, the dark waters of the lake were very picturesque.

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Isthmus Peak – Queenstown Lakes District

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Tuesday 3/03/2026   Isthmus Peak Track Carpark – Stewart Creek – Glen Dene Station – Dinner Creek – Dinner Flat – Ridge Junction – Glen Dene Ridge Track junction – Isthmus Peak (1,385 m)

                                       Isthmus Peak Track

                                       Matatiaho Conservation Area, Glen Dene Station (private land)

                                       Queenstown Lakes District, Otago, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                       Kāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) Country (Kāi Tahu people / Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu)

                              

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report),  Pablo Ureña Vega

It was a 30-minute drive from Wanaka to the trailhead of Isthmus Peak. The recommendation was to arrive early as the carpark is not large. That was an understatement, but if people had parked appropriately, many more cars would fit there. We were lucky to get the last spot.

It was almost 9:30am by the time we set off in the cool, clear morning, which promised to turn into a stunning day. It certainly didn’t disappoint us!

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Ben Lomond Track – Queenstown

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Friday 27/02/2026   Bob’s Peak / Skyline Gondola Top Complex (787m) – Skyline Access Road – Luge Track crossing – Ben Lomond Track – Douglas fir forest zone – Alpine tussock zone (treeline ~800m) – Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326m) – Moonlight Track junction – Ben Lomond Station (private land) – Ben Lomond / Te Taumata-o-Hākitekura Summit (1,748m) with rock cairn (built 1960s by Henry Barker) – Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326m) – Ben Lomond Track – Bob’s Peak / Skyline Gondola Top Complex (787m)

                                     Ben Lomond Track

                                     Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve

                                     Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago, South Island, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Te Waipounamu – Ngāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu) rohe (Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu people, incorporating Kāti Māmoe and Waitaha)

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report),  Pablo Ureña Vega

We arrived in Queentown late the previous night. With a two-hour time difference and the associated tiredness, we were off to a slow start.

We headed off to find some breakfast and then drove to buy some food for lunch. By the time we walked to the gondola station and reached the top, it was after midday.

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