Words and pictures kindly provided by Libby Hewitt
If you are looking for such a place or just want to touch base with a part of NZ that offers raw and unique beauty, head for the Catlins.
Straddling the boundary between the Otago and Southland districts on the South-West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, the Catlins, amongst other spectacular attractions, is home to Porpoise Bay.
Porpoise Bay is a beautiful stretch of beach at the end of a wider coastal area known as Curio Bay. The name “Porpoise Bay” speaks to what it is famous for.
From November to February, you can gaze for hours at the mothers of a Hector Dolphin pod that permanently lives in the bay, teaching their young to surf in the wondrously uniform waves. If you can brave the ocean’s temperatures, you can even swim with them, obeying the guidelines offered by DOC. It’s a natural temptation that is hard to resist and so worth it!
You’re also likely to spot curious sea lions, including the odd enormous bull who will lumber
up to the beach for a siesta. Nesting rare Hoihos, and the endearing little blue-eyed penguins
who go into and return from the sea between dawn and dusk. In fact, if you want to get up
close and personal to these cutest of birds, stay at Cloud 9, a bach for hire with the foremost position
along the whole beach. The penguins nest under the house and, with a little gentle persuasion, may come out to see you at the right time of day.
Cloud 9 is a true “Kiwiana” bach. Don’t expect mod cons, but count on a roaring fireplace,
comfortable beds and couches, plenty of hot water, an unparalleled ocean view,
a headland, and breathtaking sunrises. Chances are, off season, you’ll ‘own’ this beach, which can only be described as utterly magic. Porpoise Bay and the whole Catlins area are relatively unknown to domestic and international tourists. Maybe that’s a good thing? It keeps the area somehow sacrosanct.
But if you want to access goblin-like forests, tramp into stunning waterfalls, and visit nearby Slope
Point (the southernmost point of the South Island), and learn the tragic history behind the building of Waipapa Point lighthouse, then make it a destination.
You won’t, absolutely can’t be, disappointed.
Fun Fact: Click the link below to find out
Why is the area called the Catlins?
