The Caitlins (© Image Bank)
BEYOND the stunning scenery made famous in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and its extreme sports reputation, New Zealand is home to a fascinating array of wildlife, particularly in the south where a variety of endemic species can be viewed up close.
The Otago Peninsula on the South Island is where the warm South Pacific waters meet the cold southern ocean currents, bringing a unique blend of birds and animals together. Penguins, seals, sea lions and albatross are all found in the region and southern coastal areas.
The area is the focus of one of the country’s first real forays into ecotourism. Visitors’ contributions help to preserve the environment with several projects encouraging rare and endangered animals to breed, ensuring the return of migratory species.
The Royal Albatross Centre, for example, is the only place in the world where the birds breed on the mainland, while the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre has a hands-on educational approach to marine conservation, which is ideal for kids.
Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third island, is a national park itself and lies just off the southernmost point of the South Island. It remains virtually unspoilt and untouched with a tiny population, ensuring its native flora and fauna are largely left to their own devices.
Travel Weekly takes a scout around New Zealand’s South Island.
Otago Peninsula
Where?
On the southeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. Stretching out from Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula forms one side of the Otago Harbour.
What to see?
There’s an amazing amount of coastal wildlife, much of it extremely rare, and it’s often possible to get very close. New Zealand sea lions (or Hooker sea lions) are the rarest of the world’s five species and are native to New Zealand. A small number are established on the Otago Peninsula.
New Zealand fur seals were hunted to near-extinction but have now recolonised with a large population increase in recent years.
Yellow-eyed penguins are the rarest of the world’s 18 penguin species and are found only in New Zealand, while blue penguins are the smallest species.
The Royal Albatross is the largest seabird in the world and Taiaroa Head is the world’s only mainland albatross breeding colony.
What else?
The 19th gold rush city of Dunedin is a fascinating place. Founded by Scottish settlers, the second city of the South Island is the home of New Zealand’s first university and its Victorian centre swarms with students. Tourist attractions include Speight’s Brewery, Otago Museum, Cadbury World and, further down the peninsula, Larnach Castle.
Sample product
Kuoni Travel offers seven nights from £1,445 per person twin-share at the Southern Cross Hotel Dunedin in a superior room on a room-only basis, including flights and car hire.
The Catlins
Where?
Very nearly the most southern part of New Zealand, the Catlins is the region stretching from Nugget Point in South Otago to Waipapa Point in Southland — basically the region between Dunedin and Invercargill.
What to see?
Again you’ll see New Zealand fur seals and sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins, but you can also spot elephant seals, endangered Hector dolphins and, occasionally, whales.
Nugget Point is one of the best spots for its rugged scenery as well as fur seals, sea lions and seabirds while at Porpoise Bay you can swim with dolphins. In the native forest there’s also a rich variety of birdlife including bellbirds, fantails, tuis and kakariki.
What else?
Deserted beaches, rolling green countryside, native bush and a petrified forest over 160 million years old — there’s more to the Catlins than you might think. Ideally suited to a two or three-day drive, the beautiful and remote region offers bushwalks in the dense podocarp forest alongside rivers and waterfalls, rugged coastline walks and quiet, sandy dunes.
Sample product
Travel 2 has a 10-day Best of the South Island self-drive tour from £422 per person. Beginning in Christchurch the tour includes Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, The Catlins, Dunedin and Lake Tekapo. The price includes nine nights’ accommodation and car hire but not flights.
Stewart Island
Where?
New Zealand’s little-known third island is a short crossing from Invercargill, the country’s southernmost city. Stewart Island is the country’s newest national park with a population of just 400 people.
What to see?
Stewart Island is a haven for birdlife and the only place in New Zealand to see kiwi in their natural habitat. The Stewart Island kiwi is one of the largest of New Zealand’s six varieties and is known to be active in the daytime as well as at night. Around 20,000 brown kiwi live here while other birds such as weka, kaka, bellbirds, yellow-eyed penguins, tui and muttonbirds are also common.
The tiny Ulva Island is a sanctuary for rare and endangered birds. It is now predator-free thanks to an eradication programme to remove the rats which affect wildlife across New Zealand. Thirty saddlebacks and 16 Stewart Island Robins were released into the wild in 2000. New Zealand fur seals are common outside Halfmoon Bay and are often seen sunbathing on the rocks, while dolphins and whales can also be spotted.
What else?
Stewart Island is home to one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks, designated by the Department of Conservation.
The Rakiura Track is a three-day 18-mile circular ‘tramp’. Largely boardwalked, it follows the open coast, climbs over a 300 metre-high forested ridge, and traverses the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet. For the more adventurous, the Northwest Circuit is around 80 miles and takes 10 to 12 days to complete.
Sample product
Bridge and Wickers has a three-day two-night package from £250 per person including flights, transfers and two nights’ accommodation at Stewart Island Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
