NZ - Catlins

We travelled to Chrystalls Beach from Te Anua via Winton where we met Kerri for lunch. Kerri and Sarah learned to row together at Vesta Rowing club in London. It was great to catch up with Kerri who gave us some great tips for local walks / treks.

Our next stop was a bach (pronounced batch, which is traditionally a basic wooden beach hut) at Chrystalls beach east of the small town of Milton. The beach was pretty secluded and super quiet - so much so that we had it to ourselves most of the time. Just to the left of our bach was a rocky bay where the sea lions hung out. There was a strong rip tide, so no swimming, however the crashing waves shaped the dunes on a daily basis.

From there we explored the rest of the Catlins, including Porpoise bay, Mcleans falls, Jacks 'blow hole' and the beautiful Purukaunui falls. We were disappointed not to see any porpoises or penguins but the coastal scenery was amazing and we loved our private beach at Chrystalls beach.