Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand
New Zealand’s South Island is noted for a superb eco-tourism area — the Catlins. A 60,000 hectare place of awesome natural beauty, ranging from deserted beaches, dense forests, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and great walking tracks. There’s always a chance to view myriad native birds, sea elephants, leopard seals, sealions, New Zealand fur seals, Hector’s dolphins and our favourite – penguins…
Hearing we’re interested in penguins, local landowner Albert McTainsh points out nests of a yellow-eyed variety near the blowhole at the bottom of Florence Hill. To go penguin hunting, he suggests an overnight at Owaka then in the early morning, drive down to the hide at Roaring Bay near Nugget Point lighthouse to watch the penguins head out to sea for a day of fishing.
Although the 9-hole, par 35 course at the Owaka Golf Club is near our day’s destination, we follow Albert’s advice and arrive at Roaring Bay well before dawn. Perched on a hillside above the sea and just a short walk away from the small parking area near the Nugget Point lighthouse, we have the hide all to ourselves…
Within minutes we spot one yellow-eyed penguin standing outside its burrow built into a low bushy area near the beach. At first he faces he sea then looks around like a scout. When all appears clear he turns and calls to his partner then both hop about over the sharp rocks, toddle together on the smooth sand then within seconds on an incoming breaking wave, they’re in, under and out to sea for the day…
After a walk out to the lighthouse we sit on the cliffside and tally up our morning sitings: four sea lions, numerous gannets, seagulls, shags, oyster-catchers and two yellow-eyed penguins. Included in the list are two rabbits we failed to turn into roadkill. In our view rabbits are a pervasive, introduced species but they’re very nice for dinner.
To follow in Chapter five:
Waggling Bustles…
Scotland Revisited…
The Penny Farthing Tour…
The Blue Penguin Resort
Golf Cluster Courses
New Zealand’s Oldest Golf Course: Otago Golf Club – Balmacewan
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