Curio Bay; Catlins

Overlooking Curio Bay

Our next stop in the Catlins was Curio Bay.

Poker Flowers?

Every time I think we can't possibly see anything more beautiful than we've already seen, something comes along to prove me wrong. 

Sea Lion rocks

Curio Bay HAS to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

pssst..Lily...you might want to duck

It's also quite popular.  There were MAYBE 20 people on the beach, which looked to be close to a mile long. There is a great campground overlooking the bay,  and a little shop where you can get a meat pie and an L&P (lemon-y New Zealand soda).

Hector's dolphins

 We came in the hopes of spotting the rare, tiny Hector's dolphins. There is a group that spends the summer in the bay. They did not disappoint. There were 5 or 6 of them that would literally surf the waves in, go back out, and do it again. They seem to initiate human contact, and wherever there was a swimmer, the dolphins would come close in and hang out.

Technicolor provided by Mother Nature.