Day 106 Invercargill, Sandy Point, Bluff

We were getting ready to leave the Invercargill Holiday Park when we saw this little fellow walking around. The are very common in the fields but this is the first we have seen one up close.

Magpie



We are staying in Bluff tonight as we are catching the ferry to Stewart Island in the morning.  Bluff is where the ferry docks are located but first we had a couple chores to do first.  One at the grocery store and the other at Starbucks.  Once I had my coffee we headed for Sandy Point to have a look around.  We walked around a little bit and stopped at the flats for a look at the waterfowl.

We left Sandy Point and headed to Bluff on Hwy 1.  We followed the Highway 30 kilometers into Bluff and carried on to Stirling Point which was the end of Hwy 1.  Actually what they say in Bluff is that this is where the Highway starts.  Who am I to argue?



Coast to Lookout Point





Stirling Point





Lighthouse at Stirling Point



They say, I am not sure who "They" are, that when you are in Bluff you have to have either Oysters or Fish and Chips.  Since Oysters are out of season we wisely opted for Fish and Chips.

There is a restaurant at Stirling Point called "The Drunken Sailor"  where we were treated to a good feed.  It was the best Fish and Chips we have had in New Zealand.

After lunch we decided to take a walk out to Lookout Point.  In the 1830's a number of whaling stations were present in the area with one being at Stirling Point.  The whaling vessels would position themselves at the point and the spotters would climb the bluffs to try and spot the whales.  Hence the name.  The walk took us a little over two hours and the scenery was quite beautiful, rugged but beautiful.



Kiwi Rod on Lookout Point



Coast toward Lookout Point

We enjoyed the scenery on the walk but we had more fun trying to take pictures of the different kind of birds.  We had to battle the sun and the speed of the birds but we did get a few good pictures.

Black Fronted Tern



Fantail




Tui




Wood Pigeon





Black Shag



Leaving Stirling Point we drove up to the Bluff Lookout.  Here we were able to get a 360 degree view of Bluff.  It was overcast and the wind had picked up so that restricted our view.  We took pictures but I would like to get back here on a clear day.  I think the view would be spectacular.



Stewart Island





Town of Bluff