Urgently Seeking Alpine Gecko Sightings

After a long spate of foggy, cloudy and rain drenched weather we are blessed in Invercargill with two consecutive days of brilliant sunshine. My skin is soaking in its warmth as we take advantage to spread out our gear and organize our impending trip on the Dusky track in fijordland. As such, a newsy blog detailing our holidays and trip to lovely Stewart Island is in order...

We returned from Mount Cook invigorated by the mountain air to dig spuds, THE traditional holiday treat for kiwis. Depite our two day fixation on those golden buried treasures we dug in with gusto on Christmas day alongside the exuberant Lindsay family. Asked to contribute an 'American' treat we brought good ole buttermilk biscuits and a Gatcomb favorite, bellybuttons (for those not initiated these are tiny cinnammon and brown sugar pastry swirls). Both were exceedingly popular. We spent a wonderful and laid-back Christmas day, welcomed into the family and wholesomely entertained. We hauled our 'toys' from the van and introduced the kids to frisbie, football (soccer) and badminton.

Shortly afterwards we packed up Harriet the Chariot and began a week long trip down the coast, to spend New Year's in Dunedin. Numerous day tramps on the Otago peninsula filled our days and exercise requirements, and we found unique spots near the beach, next to streams, amidst an estuary, to spend each night. There is nothing like falling asleep to the sound of surf and waking to chattering birds. New Year's in Dunedin involves an enormous stage set in the middle of city center, an Octagon of cobbled streets, shops and pubs straddling a hillside. We luxuriated in a hostel, joined the nightlife and restocked supplies.


The most remote bits of New Zealand stretch between Dunedin and Invercargill along the southern coast. We spent three days trundling down unpaved roads to explore deserted beaches and cliffsides, watch penguins come ashore and sea lions loll on the beach. A highlight was watching graceful and magestic albatross soar on the winds at the tip of the Otago peninsula. The Catlins aren't tremendously accessible to trampers but we found a 15 km forest track exhibiting the glories of old-growth beech and podocarp forest along with some incredible waterfalls and misty vistas.

Next up, an unplanned and spur of the moment trip to Rakiura, the wild and remote Stewart Island. Stepping off the tumultuous ferry-ride was like stepping into paradise with the chorus of tui birds greeting our ears. We slept in our tent for a few nights while exploring as far as our feet would carry and then rented a kayak to explore the bird-sanctuary of Ulva island and Patterson Inlet. A night in a back country hut with four kiwi guys and a paddle back to town completed our tour of the island.

And here we sit at the cafe, sending a quick hello to our beloved friends and families before dashing off into the wilds again. Hope you are all happy and healthy.