After a marvellous feed of fresh Bluff Oysters for tea last night we are off to see where they come from and drove the 27km to Bluff. The Bluff Hill lookout was our first stop and as we drove up this steep incline we gave a little thought to the riders in the Southland Tour as this is one of the tour sections they have to race up !
Great views from the top over Bluff Harbour, Stewart Island and the port and of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. The lookout is a walking friendly structure which spirals up from the car park to the top where an etched stone (marble?) surround shows where everything is.
Bluff Harbour Tiwai Point Aluminimium Smelter
Down the hill again, stopping briefly at the RSA Memorial Grove where twenty five trees had been planted to remember the twenty five Bluff Men who gave their lives in the war.
Off the to Sterling Point scene of the most photographed sign in NZ where we took the obligatory photos before moving on.
Sterling Point Sign
Next stop was the very well presented Maritime Museum full of a variety of nautically themed displays of whalers, tugs and a very good HMNZS Southland display. We duly paid our 50cents to get the port engine from the tug Awarua turning over.
Museum Display Tug “Awarua” Port Engine
Outside was the a donated Oyster Boat which you are able to board and look around. The cramped conditions and heavy diesel smell certainly wouldn’t tempt me to go Oyster catching !
The Oyster Boat and its engine room
We have to vacate this stopover by 10am tomorrow as they have trotting starting at 11:30am. Tonight they have Greyhound Racing on the central track. This Racecourse is the only one in NZ that conducts all three racing codes – Gallops, Trots and Greyhounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment