Estuary at Fortrose

Toetoes Estuary at Fortrose. Our photos were taken from the coastal clifftop. Fortrose is in the far south of The Catlins, Southland, New Zealand. The location is way down south, on the south coast of the South Island. From the clifftop you can see where the estuary opens out to the ocean - clearly seen...

Leaning Trees

These trees are all on a lean because of the brutal gale winds in the south! A closer look at the Olearia traversii trees on the coastal clifftop at Fortrose, Southland, New Zealand. Fortrose is in the far south of The Catlins. This post continues yesterday's: All The Tired Trees. Photos taken 21 Feb 2021....

All The Tired Trees

And a trig point. No mistaking which direction the prevailing wind comes from when you visit the ocean-facing clifftop at Fortrose, Southland, New Zealand. South coast of the South Island. After initially investigating the clifftop edge area we noticed the severely wind-beaten trees and wandered over to investigate. Fortunately for us there was nothing more...

Estuary Oystercatchers

When we were at Fortrose on 21 February 2021 the tide was low and oystercatchers were busy feeding on the exposed flats and in the shallows. The Catlins, Southland, New Zealand.

Oh The Ocean!

Ocean views from the clifftop at Fortrose in The Catlins, Southland, New Zealand. Photos taken on 21 February 2021.

Fortrose Clifftop

Photos taken on a coastal clifftop at Fortrose when we visited on 21 February 2021. It was the first time we'd explored the oceanfront aspect of Fortrose and we both enjoyed it immensely. All photos taken by Nigel except the last one by me. The Catlins, New Zealand. Click on any photo to enlarge. Beach...

Ebb And Flow

Our first visit to the ocean end of Fortrose. We drove through the golf course and the road opened out to a carpark and large open public area. We had a fabulous time exploring here - so much to see! Ocean meeting southern end of South Island, and channel through to Toetoes Estuary. 21 February...

Summer Joy

Wherever you are in New Zealand you're never that far from the sea. Sunday was a perfect summer day and I told Nigel how much I'd like to go to Fortrose, about an hour and a half drive from home. On the way I photographed the kniphofias that featured in two recent posts. There's a...

Wheeeee

Playful gulls today, jumping off a cliff and hovering in the onshore wind. Fortrose, Southland. New Zealand.

Meconopsis Poppies

Blue meconopsis flowers are really special so I thought I'd share more photos of these from the garden we had when we lived in The Catlins. We also had a meconopsis with lemon-coloured flowers and the same plant had golden fur over its leaves and stem, very special. New Zealand. Photos by Nigel. Click on...

Southern Rata

A species of Metrosideros that makes a great show of red flowers, a bit like the more famous pohutukawa, is Metrosideros umbellata but M.umbellata's natural home is down here in the south where it's cool and moist (pohutukawa's natural home is further north where it's hotter and drier). On my recent bottlebrush post Steve Schwartzman...

Migrant To New Zealand

Here's a bird that arrives in New Zealand during Spring and departs before Winter, our very own fair weather friend. It has a distinctive call so we know when it's arrived. Generally it doesn't hang around at low levels - instead it's usually up in the tree canopy where it's almost impossible to spot so...