Tag Archives: Southland Region

Oban – Half Moon Bay – Horseshoe Point – Stewart Island – NEW ZEALAND

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Monday 16/03/2026   Stewart Island Backpackers – Elgin Terrace – Mill Creek – Horseshoe Bay Road – Butterfield Beach – Horseshoe Point Road – Horseshoe Bay Beach – Horseshoe Point – Simons Beach – Sarah Cove – Braggs Bay Road – Braggs Bay – Moturau Moana Native Gardens

                                         Oban – Half Moon Bay – Horseshoe Point

                                         Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                         Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                         Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)                                 

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We set off from the Stewart Island Backpackers in Oban on a cool March morning with scattered showers and a brisk south-westerly — typical Stewart Island weather. The route climbs out past Mill Creek and along Horseshoe Bay Road, the houses thinning as the road rises. It’s straightforward roadside walking with a steady gradient — this island is anything but flat. The views of the coast opened up nicely, with Butterfield Beach curling around below and Horseshoe Point in the distance.

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Golden Bay – Reinga Beach – Oban – Stewart Island – NEW ZEALAND

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Sunday 15/03/2026   Stewart Island Backpackers – Dundee Street – Fuchsia Walk – Roroa Walk Watercress Beach – Thule Road – Golden Bay Wharf – Golden Bay – Deep Bay Road – Reinga Beach – Petersons Hill Road  – Elgin Terrace – Oban

                                        Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                        Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                        Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)                                  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We spent a day wandering the bays and tracks around Oban on Stewart Island on a cool, partly cloudy March afternoon. From the Stewart Island Backpackers we headed along Dundee Street into the Fuchsia Walk — a short climb through native forest to Traill Park, then onto the Raroa Track down to quiet Watercress Bay. The forest track is well-formed with a straightforward descent.

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Waipapa Point – The Catlins – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Waipapa Lighthouse Road – Waipapa Point Lighthouse – Waipapa Point

                                      Waipapa Point Coastal Walk
                                      The Catlins

                                      Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                      Murihiku Country (Ngā Tahu people)               

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

We drove to the end of Waipapa Lighthouse Road on a cool, calm March morning with high cloud lifting and light winds — perfect conditions for this exposed stretch of coast. From the road, the track is a broad, firm and almost level loop across low grass, sand and coastal scrub towards the white lighthouse tower. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, but the setting is striking.

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Slope Point – The Catlins – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Slope Point Road – Slope Point – Slope Point Light Beacon Station – The Southern Most Point of New Zealand

                                     Slope Point walking track (informal farm access route across private farmland)

                                     Private farmland at Slope Point

                                     The Catlins

                                     Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Murihiku Country (Ngāi Tahu people)                                

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

We drove to the end of Slope Point Road on a cool, breezy March morning. A small car park marks the start of an informal farm track across private grazing land — you need to check the gate is closed behind you. The route is a faint track threading between fence lines with sheep grazing either side. It’s flat, easy going on firm but slightly damp ground from recent showers. A steady amble rather than a hike, though the sense of exposure grows as you approach the cliff edge.

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Curio Bay – Porpoise Bay area – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Waikawa-Curio Bay Rd – Curio Bay – The Headland

                                     Tumu Toka Curio Bay/Porpoise Bay area

                                     Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Kāi Tahu Country (Ngāi Tahu people)                              

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

We drove along the Waikawa-Curio Bay Road on a cool, breezy March morning with a south-westerly pushing in — clouds stacked over the Catlins coast and the air in the low teens. From the roadside, a short, easy path rolls gently down towards the sea. It’s a wide, well-formed track of gravel, compacted earth and boardwalk with just a few steps and short slopes. Very easy going.

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