Fiordland From Tuatapere To Riverton

From Tuatapere, SH92 runs past the Longwood Range to Riverton. Not long after leaving Tuatapere, you are greeted by the misty shores of Tae Waewae Bay, where you can sometimes see whales or Hector’s dolphins from McCracken’s Rest. Yes, it’s actually called that. Look for the turn-off as you approach Orepuki (pop. 150). Originally located farther down the road at Monkey Island (or Te Puka a Takatimu, meaning “anchor stone of Tatuatea’s great canoe”), this mining town was relocated three times to satisfy prospectors. Nearby at Orepuki’s Gemstone Beach you may find tiny low-grade gemstones amid the sand; hopefuls still pan for gold.

After Orepuki, take a quick stop at Cosy Nook, just off the highway, where five fisherman’s cottages built in the 1960s without regard to local regulations have been preserved through a strange legal loophole, wherein they have no land deeds but cannot be sold or enlarged. Talk about keeping property in the family! Just 10km before Riverton, Colac Bay, once a Maori settlement, is a surfing beach popular for its long, shallow stretch of sand and consistent surf. Just before the bay, you’ll find Colac Bay Tavern and Dustez Bakpakas (BBH) 2, 15 Colac Bay Rd. (☎234 8399; www.dustezbakpakas.co.nz. Reception at Tavern noon-late. Cabins $24 per person; tent sites $12 per person. $3 off with BBH.)