Tautuku Lodges Are A Good Base For Exploring the Catlins

Forest and Bird, Issue 299, 1 February 2001, Page 37

Tautuku Lodges Are A Good Base For Exploring the Catlins

ay down at the southernmost corner of the South Island lies the Catlins, a land of isolated beaches, rugged coastline and expansive areas of broadleaf and podocarp forest. In places there is an unbroken forest sequence running from the coast to inland hilltops. Increasingly, this natural haven is becoming a holiday destination for both New Zealand and overseas tourists. Forest and Bird’s Tautuku Lodge, situated at the entrance to the Society’s Lenz Reserve, is well sited for exploring the the many natural attractions of the Catlins region. There are three lodges available: Tautuku Lodge, itself accommodating 10 people; the Francis Coutts Cabin sleeping four; and the Aframe hut sleeping two. The buildings were financed by Society branches and, in the case of Coutts Cabin, from the estate of Francis Coutts. Both members and non-members can stay in the lodges. Educational groups and an increasing number of casual travellers are also using them. From the lodges _ three marked tracks provide easy walking for exploring parts of the 550-hectare Lenz Reserve. The Nature Walk features identification plaques and follows a roughly circular route through regenerating forest. The much longer Long Track, branching off from the Nature Walk at both ends, follows the old bush tramline in

places, and crosses the Fleming River twice. At a high point of the track a raised platform provides views over the reserve. The Boardwalk — Track branches off the Nature Walk and finishes at a 30-metre boardwalk into a wetland area. Also on the reserve, a short shingled track maintained by DoC provides access to a restored ‘bush-tram’ historical display and is used by tourists and lodge visitors. Several other interesting tracks are within easy walking distance of Lenz Reserve. To the south of the reserve, a track and boardwalk developed by the Society out into the Tautuku Estuary give excellent views of the forest on the south side of the river and offer an ideal opportunity for viewing estuarine birds, including fernbird. Further to the east, near Tautuku Beach, a short track leads from SH 92 through mature forest to peaceful and reflective Lake Wilkie. There is also a track leading to Tautuku Beach itself through oldgrowth forest. From the seaside holiday settlement of Papatowai there is the two-day (and privately operated) Top Track walk along the coast and through forest and farmland. Further afield there are a range of ‘natural wonders’ within 30 minutes to an hour’s driving distance. Cathedral Caves, rising to more than 30 metres in places, resonate to the sound of the sea. Inland

from Tautuku Bay there is McLean Falls, the tallest accessible waterfall in the Catlins area, while beyond Papatowai are the picturesque Matai and Purakaunui Falls. At Curio Bay (best viewed at low tide) is an internationally significant fossil forest where petrified trees similar to kauri and matai, the remains of a Jurassic-age forest 180 million years old, lie embedded in coastal bedrock. North-east-wards at Purakaunui Bay is Jack’s Blowhole, a collapsed sea cave whose margins are being revegetated by Society members (see Forest e& Bird November 2000). The Catlins region is also home to some of New Zealand’s most notable wildlife. At tranquil Porpoise Bay, a safe and popular swimming and holiday spot, one of the world’s rarest dolphins, Hector’s dolphin, is found. New Zealand fur seals, Hooker’s New Zealand sea lions and the odd, formidable southern elephant seal, can be found sunning themselves on the Catlins beaches. Nugget Point, with its spectacular coastal views, is the only place on mainland New Zealand where all three co-exist along with hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin), sooty shearwater and other seabird species. — Peter White. Bookings for Tautuku Lodge are available from the caretaker (see Lodges, page 49 of this journal, for details).