Heading South on the Scenic Highway

We drove along the Southern Scenic Highway from Te Anau to Invercargill, transitioning from the Fiordland mountainous region to the coastal views of Southland. First, we stopped at the Rakatu wetlands, a nice meandering walk through lots of flax plants, by a marsh and large pond, through sheep grazing, into a native bush grove, and to a river. We also stopped at Clifden Suspension Bridge, a 100+ year old bridge that had been an impressive local engineering feat at the time of its construction. Finally, we came close to the ocean again, after having been mostly inland for weeks and weeks, and stopped at McCracken’s Rest for a view from the Southern Alps to the north all the way to Monkey Island and Stewart Island to the south. We also took a quick pass through Cosy Nook, a tiny little fishing village with an impressive rock filled, wavy bay.