To Invercargill along the Southern Scenic Route

Again, we had to take a decision due to time. Had to forego a visit to the Otago Museum, which has some excellent Maori pieces, we are told. However, our next booked accommodation was at Invercargill, and we wanted to drive along the Southern Scenic Route and enjoy the sights of "tropical Scotland”, through the Catlins National Park. We headed out at 10:30 and arrived in Invercargill at around 18:30, so our time estimate was accurate.

Turn off SH-1 on to SSR 92 at Balchutha. Have lunch in Owaka at the Catlins Café. Sit outside on a picnic bench. Share squid salad, beautifully done, and Blue Cod fish and chips. Reach Nugget Pt lighthouse. Signs posted Beware of dangerous sea lions – unfortunately, didn't encounter any. Thanks to binoculars we could make out the seals cleverly camouflaged on the rocks below. Elephant seal among them? Hard to make out – probably very large fur seal.

Very sunny sky when we started out in Dunedin. Began to drizzle a bit at Nugget Pt. By the end of the day, it was raining for real. Amazing cloud formations – close encounters, eerie! 

Continue on to Curio Bay – coastal road. Decide to take that route via Fortrose to Invercargill. So beautiful, didn't want to backtrack to SH-1. Oops – only 1/4 tank of gas – can we make it? See a sign for gas at an unsealed road – something about 200 m. and a turn-out. Sheep staring at us. Surely the gas pumps aren't down here?! Turn around, see a pick-up truck approaching. Ask about petrol – nearest place closes in 10 minutes – 6 p.m. "How far is it?" "About 9 minutes away." (wide smile). Race behind the truck on windy, unsealed (gravel) road – not sure where we are going or how far. Past 6 p.m. – hope the guys in the pick-up have called ahead. They did! Thank you! Two-tank station at Tokanui, owner waiting at the door for us. Relief! Lesson to us city folks.

Sheep calmly watching as we desperately searched for a petrol/gas station