Another trip, this time over the beautiful golden sands of Dunedin’s Southern beaches.

Heading out from Taieri airfield we crossed Chain Hills and circled around St Clair beach before heading South. The beaches are every bit as spectacular as Dunedin’s northern beaches. Because our climate isn’t ‘tropical” you can almost guarantee to have some of this coast line all to yourself, or in our our case ourselves and the dogs.

 St Clair Beach and salt water poolThe ruins of Cargills Castle, perched on the rugged, exposed cliffs above the ocean near St Clair, was completed in 1877 for  Edward Cargill. A trust has been set up to preserve the ruins.

 Tunnel Beach – in the 1870’s, a tunnel was dug by a local farmer, John Cargill to allow private access to the beach for his family. See post

 Kaikorai LagoonWaldronville – home to Island Park gold course, recreation reserve and Island Park speedway.

 South coast – looking south over Westwood, Ocean View to Brighton. Brighton   Brighton beach and rugby grounds   South BrightonTaieri Mouth is a small fishing village at the mouth of the Taieri River,  located 40 km southwest of central Dunedin on the Southern scenic route. It has  white sandy beaches for swimming and several picnic areas. There is also a walking track that follows the Taieri River from the mouth through the lower gorge to Henley.

Taieri Island lies in the ocean several hundred metres off the river’s mouth.  It is connected to the mainland by a sandy causeway at low tide. The island is a nature reserve, and is home to many protected seabirds.  It was the site of a whaling station in the 1830s and 40s.

 Taeiri Mouth   Akatore River mouth  – See post

 Akaore River Mouth  Akatore River Mouth  Toko MouthToko Mouth is a settlement of about 70 holiday homes, close to the south bank of the mouth of the Tokomairiro River, some 50 kilometres south of Dunedin. 

Toko MouthA collection of holiday homes at Bull Creek – North of Toko Mouth