ToiToi Papatotoara's Guidebook

Chrissy
ToiToi Papatotoara's Guidebook

Walk/Run Route

Walking the track? This is where you will start! Not walking the track but would still like to try some of the track? This is perfect too! It's a lovely walk through the first part of the track down to the "Waik" or a bit further to Blowholes Beach. Mind those sandflies though!
Hump Ridge Track
1304B Papatotara Coast Rd
Walking the track? This is where you will start! Not walking the track but would still like to try some of the track? This is perfect too! It's a lovely walk through the first part of the track down to the "Waik" or a bit further to Blowholes Beach. Mind those sandflies though!
New Zealand's deepest lake! Stunning views around the lake or if you're game and up for the challenge, hike to the top of the lookout - the views are totally worth the climb. It is steep and it will take between 2 and half to 3 hours return. The road out to Lake Hauroko is unsealed for about 20km.
Lake Hauroko
New Zealand's deepest lake! Stunning views around the lake or if you're game and up for the challenge, hike to the top of the lookout - the views are totally worth the climb. It is steep and it will take between 2 and half to 3 hours return. The road out to Lake Hauroko is unsealed for about 20km.
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Mores Scenic Reserve - Riverton
163 Richard St
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Sightseeing

This historic suspension bridge was an important transport link in what was a relatively remote part of Southland; opening up of the area east of the Waiau River. It was built in 1898-99 to replace a punt which had operated since the early days of settlement. The building of a bridge of this span was a significant local engineering feat made possible by the tensile properties of new steel cables. The Clifden Bridge has 27 of these steel cables attached to concrete pillars (clad to resemble stone pillars) and still has its historic wooden decking. It is listed as a Category I Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
Clifden Suspension Bridge
20 Gardner Rd
This historic suspension bridge was an important transport link in what was a relatively remote part of Southland; opening up of the area east of the Waiau River. It was built in 1898-99 to replace a punt which had operated since the early days of settlement. The building of a bridge of this span was a significant local engineering feat made possible by the tensile properties of new steel cables. The Clifden Bridge has 27 of these steel cables attached to concrete pillars (clad to resemble stone pillars) and still has its historic wooden decking. It is listed as a Category I Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
Even if you're not camping - this is a great beach to visit. Sorry there's no actual monkeys - but if the tide is out you can walk over the lookout atop a small hill - or just stroll along the gorgeous sandy beach!
Monkey Island Beach
27 Monkey Island Rd
Even if you're not camping - this is a great beach to visit. Sorry there's no actual monkeys - but if the tide is out you can walk over the lookout atop a small hill - or just stroll along the gorgeous sandy beach!
Everyone loves this beach - rugged on winter's day, rugged on a summer's day. And if you're lucky, you might just find a handful of 'gemstones' to take home!
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Gemstone Beach
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Everyone loves this beach - rugged on winter's day, rugged on a summer's day. And if you're lucky, you might just find a handful of 'gemstones' to take home!
Great 360 degree views! On a clear day you can see Fiordland (close to where you're staying at ToiToi Papatotara) and Stewart Island!
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Bluff Hill Lookout
180 Flagstaff Rd
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Great 360 degree views! On a clear day you can see Fiordland (close to where you're staying at ToiToi Papatotara) and Stewart Island!
Short walk up the hill with views to Stewart Island and Fiordland National Park (on a clear day!)
Howells Point Reserve
Rocks Highway
Short walk up the hill with views to Stewart Island and Fiordland National Park (on a clear day!)
Not quite the most southern point of NZ (Slope Point has that honour) but it's the next best thing! And of course you need to have your photo taken by the sign! Keep an eye out for the Maui's link too!
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Stirling Point
39 Ward Parade
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Not quite the most southern point of NZ (Slope Point has that honour) but it's the next best thing! And of course you need to have your photo taken by the sign! Keep an eye out for the Maui's link too!
On a clear day the views are stunning. Perfect place to stop and read a bit of history on the area.
McCracken's rest
805 Tuatapere-Orepuki Hwy
On a clear day the views are stunning. Perfect place to stop and read a bit of history on the area.
Great drive (only 45 minutes) to this stunning lake - plus there's a couple of places to get a coffee and a bite to eat. Awesome walk along the lakefront. Lake Manapouri is considered one of New Zealand's most picturesque lakes. Real Journeys leave from here to go to Doubtful Sounds. If you've got time, a day trip or even an overnighter in Doubtful Sounds is totally worth it!
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Lake Manapouri
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Great drive (only 45 minutes) to this stunning lake - plus there's a couple of places to get a coffee and a bite to eat. Awesome walk along the lakefront. Lake Manapouri is considered one of New Zealand's most picturesque lakes. Real Journeys leave from here to go to Doubtful Sounds. If you've got time, a day trip or even an overnighter in Doubtful Sounds is totally worth it!
Stunning place, interesting drive (can be very busy with traffic). Lots of places of interest to stop at along the way. Highly recommend checking out the day tours that local companies in Te Anau offer. Takes the pressure of knowing what to see and of course driving on an unfamiliar road. Plus those drivers are a wealth of local knowledge. A must do trip if you're in Southland!
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Milford Sound
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Stunning place, interesting drive (can be very busy with traffic). Lots of places of interest to stop at along the way. Highly recommend checking out the day tours that local companies in Te Anau offer. Takes the pressure of knowing what to see and of course driving on an unfamiliar road. Plus those drivers are a wealth of local knowledge. A must do trip if you're in Southland!
Cosy Nook is a picturesque rocky cove sheltering several fishing boats and holiday cribs. It is an important cultural and historical Maori settlement site.
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Cosy Nook (cove)
353 Mullet Rd
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Cosy Nook is a picturesque rocky cove sheltering several fishing boats and holiday cribs. It is an important cultural and historical Maori settlement site.
Museum and Information Centre. Discover the unique history in one of New Zealand's oldest towns, Riverton (Aparima). They also have a beautiful retail store and an information centre.
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Te Hikoi Southern Journey
172 Palmerston St
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Museum and Information Centre. Discover the unique history in one of New Zealand's oldest towns, Riverton (Aparima). They also have a beautiful retail store and an information centre.
Located in Riverton. Taramea Bay, the stretch of beach between Howell's Point and the entrance of the Jacobs River Estuary, is a popular spot in the summer as it provides safe family swimming. A small section within the larger Taramea Bay, Mitchell's Bay is an excellent surf spot, with a great right hand point break that performs well at mid-tide. The bays are also popular for water skiing, rowing, fishing and catching the occasional flounder. There are toilet and changing facilities and a great playground at Taramea Bay, plus interesting coastal walkways nearby. Riverton is well known for dolphin spotting as they like to travel up into the estuary for feeding, so awe-inspiring close encounters in the bays are possible.
Taramea Bay
Located in Riverton. Taramea Bay, the stretch of beach between Howell's Point and the entrance of the Jacobs River Estuary, is a popular spot in the summer as it provides safe family swimming. A small section within the larger Taramea Bay, Mitchell's Bay is an excellent surf spot, with a great right hand point break that performs well at mid-tide. The bays are also popular for water skiing, rowing, fishing and catching the occasional flounder. There are toilet and changing facilities and a great playground at Taramea Bay, plus interesting coastal walkways nearby. Riverton is well known for dolphin spotting as they like to travel up into the estuary for feeding, so awe-inspiring close encounters in the bays are possible.
Explore limestone cave systems and view stalactites and glow worms at the Clifden Caves, one of the only underground caves in Southland. The entrance to the caves is signposted from the road and parking is available adjacent to the entrance. Access to the caves is over a stile and though private property, please respect the area. It is advised to enter this cave system at either the upper or lower entrance and travel south to the exit. This will minimise the time spent with wet footwear and clothing after passing through the pool section of the cave. It takes approximately 1.5 - 2 hours to travel through the entire system. A high level of fitness and agility is required to navigate the caves as some passages are narrow and will require crawling on hands and knees and there are several fixed ladders to climb up and down. Make sure to follow the orange triangular markers that indicate the route and ensure you have a good torch and/or head lamp, spare batteries and warm clothing. Please Note: This cave system is subject to flash flooding. DO NOT enter during or immediately after heavy rain, or if rain events are forecast.
Clifden Caves
Clifden Gorge Road
Explore limestone cave systems and view stalactites and glow worms at the Clifden Caves, one of the only underground caves in Southland. The entrance to the caves is signposted from the road and parking is available adjacent to the entrance. Access to the caves is over a stile and though private property, please respect the area. It is advised to enter this cave system at either the upper or lower entrance and travel south to the exit. This will minimise the time spent with wet footwear and clothing after passing through the pool section of the cave. It takes approximately 1.5 - 2 hours to travel through the entire system. A high level of fitness and agility is required to navigate the caves as some passages are narrow and will require crawling on hands and knees and there are several fixed ladders to climb up and down. Make sure to follow the orange triangular markers that indicate the route and ensure you have a good torch and/or head lamp, spare batteries and warm clothing. Please Note: This cave system is subject to flash flooding. DO NOT enter during or immediately after heavy rain, or if rain events are forecast.
56 minute drive from ToiToi Papatotara (on the way to Te Anau, turn off at Blackmount). One of the smaller southern glacial lakes, Lake Monowai is shaped like a boomerang and set amongst beautiful mountainous country and native bush. It is drained in the northeast by the short Monowai River, which then enters the Waiau River.
Lake Monowai
56 minute drive from ToiToi Papatotara (on the way to Te Anau, turn off at Blackmount). One of the smaller southern glacial lakes, Lake Monowai is shaped like a boomerang and set amongst beautiful mountainous country and native bush. It is drained in the northeast by the short Monowai River, which then enters the Waiau River.
Great track for all ages. Well maintained and plenty of parking. Doesn't matter if it's raining and lots of interest/historic points along the way!
Long Hilly Walking Track
Round Hill Road
Great track for all ages. Well maintained and plenty of parking. Doesn't matter if it's raining and lots of interest/historic points along the way!

Neighbourhoods

Small rural township about 12kms from ToiToi Papatotara. There are some great little bush walks all around Tuatapere - labelled the Tui Trails (there's a map with details in your accomodation space). Tuatapere is one of the last rural townships with native bush in the middle of "town" - hence it's nickname "The hole in the bush". Also famous for it's Sausages - which are available from Tui Base Camp Cafe/Bar/Restaurant
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Tuatapere
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Small rural township about 12kms from ToiToi Papatotara. There are some great little bush walks all around Tuatapere - labelled the Tui Trails (there's a map with details in your accomodation space). Tuatapere is one of the last rural townships with native bush in the middle of "town" - hence it's nickname "The hole in the bush". Also famous for it's Sausages - which are available from Tui Base Camp Cafe/Bar/Restaurant

Food scene

Fabulous coffee, great food. On State Highway 99 - the coastal way to drive to Invercargill, Orepuki Beach Cafe is the perfect pitstop! (Not open on a Monday and it gets really busy on the weekends!)
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Orepuki Beach Cafe
33 Stafford St
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Fabulous coffee, great food. On State Highway 99 - the coastal way to drive to Invercargill, Orepuki Beach Cafe is the perfect pitstop! (Not open on a Monday and it gets really busy on the weekends!)
Great place for lunch or dinner - or a quiet drink and a game of pool if you wish. It's the local, food is good, beer is cold and the selection of wines is ok. (Cafe/Bar/Restaurant) Plus this is where you can buy the famous Tuatapere Sausages!
Tui Base Camp
2 McFeely St
Great place for lunch or dinner - or a quiet drink and a game of pool if you wish. It's the local, food is good, beer is cold and the selection of wines is ok. (Cafe/Bar/Restaurant) Plus this is where you can buy the famous Tuatapere Sausages!
Takeaways more your style? The Blue Cod fish burger is THE best! Fish and chips are not bad either - but make sure you get blue cod - it really is the best the fish down here!
Hungry Hippo
59 Main Road
Takeaways more your style? The Blue Cod fish burger is THE best! Fish and chips are not bad either - but make sure you get blue cod - it really is the best the fish down here!
Good place to stop for a drink and something to eat - good menu selection.
Otautau Hotel
167 Main St
Good place to stop for a drink and something to eat - good menu selection.
Pop in and say hi to Mark and Raissa, owners of our local Four Square in Tuatapere. The in-store deli has fresh sandwiches, hot food to go and ready made meals just waiting for you! Plus almost everything else you'd get at a supermarket in the city. There's a pretty decent selection of non-alcoholic drinks, wine, beer or cider. Friendly staff too!
Four Square Supermarket Tuatapere
73 Main Rd
Pop in and say hi to Mark and Raissa, owners of our local Four Square in Tuatapere. The in-store deli has fresh sandwiches, hot food to go and ready made meals just waiting for you! Plus almost everything else you'd get at a supermarket in the city. There's a pretty decent selection of non-alcoholic drinks, wine, beer or cider. Friendly staff too!
Relax at the Orepuki Tavern and have a hot or cold drink, ice cream, and lovely meals, and great southern hospitality.
Orepuki Tavern
Dover Street
Relax at the Orepuki Tavern and have a hot or cold drink, ice cream, and lovely meals, and great southern hospitality.
Not your typical country pub. Best blue cod in the west massive burgers and wood-fired pizzas. Sometimes there's live music too!
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Colac Bay Tavern & Camping Ground
15 Colac Bay Rd
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Not your typical country pub. Best blue cod in the west massive burgers and wood-fired pizzas. Sometimes there's live music too!
Nice coffee, good food and a picturesque setting - the perfect place to stop on your way between Tuatapere & Te Anau! Closes at 4pm (Friday 8pm) and closed Mondays & Tuesdays.
Brunel Peaks Cafe
Nice coffee, good food and a picturesque setting - the perfect place to stop on your way between Tuatapere & Te Anau! Closes at 4pm (Friday 8pm) and closed Mondays & Tuesdays.

City/town information

Quirky town to drive through. As you drive the main street through Riverton you'll see lots of second hand shops and creative art shops. Cafes too! Check out Howells Point Reserve and/or Mores Scenic Reserve. Make sure you drive around to Riverton Rocks (it's off the main drive through Riverton so you don't normally see it!)
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Riverton
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Quirky town to drive through. As you drive the main street through Riverton you'll see lots of second hand shops and creative art shops. Cafes too! Check out Howells Point Reserve and/or Mores Scenic Reserve. Make sure you drive around to Riverton Rocks (it's off the main drive through Riverton so you don't normally see it!)
About an hour and 10 minutes drive to Invercargill (the big smoke) from ToiToi Papatotara. It's got all the usual city things! If you're into transport - check out Transport World and/or Mecca Motorcycles. It's a bit on the pricey side (IMO) to view the museums. Check out E Hayes & Sons (Hammer Hardware) Motorworks Collection - home of Burt Munro's Authentic, Original and Legendary 'World's Fastest Indian' motorcycle. The entire store is home to the unique E Hayes Motorworks Collection representing one of the finest private collections of FREE TO VIEW classic motorcycles, automobiles and engines in New Zealand.
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Invercargill
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About an hour and 10 minutes drive to Invercargill (the big smoke) from ToiToi Papatotara. It's got all the usual city things! If you're into transport - check out Transport World and/or Mecca Motorcycles. It's a bit on the pricey side (IMO) to view the museums. Check out E Hayes & Sons (Hammer Hardware) Motorworks Collection - home of Burt Munro's Authentic, Original and Legendary 'World's Fastest Indian' motorcycle. The entire store is home to the unique E Hayes Motorworks Collection representing one of the finest private collections of FREE TO VIEW classic motorcycles, automobiles and engines in New Zealand.
An hour's drive from here and certainly worth it! Lots of walks along the water's edge! And a few shops/cafes etc to check out too. It's the gateway to Milford Sound as well!
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Te Anau
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An hour's drive from here and certainly worth it! Lots of walks along the water's edge! And a few shops/cafes etc to check out too. It's the gateway to Milford Sound as well!