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Home , Gorge Road, Kepler Mire, Lake Manapouri, Lake Monowai, Lake Te Anau, Manapouri

you can visit in Southland

With only 10% of original wetlands remaining and floodplains have been extensively Southland Agencies throughout , Southland is fortunate to modified by land development. Kahikatea retain around 30% of its pre-European extent. forest was once common across the Southland Environment Southland (Regional Council) Plains, but only small patches remain today. The www.es.govt.nz The cool, predominantly coastal climate and Redcliff Reserve below is a good extensive flood plain landscapes of the Southland example of a swamp, and you can see swamp Department of Conservation Plains environment was especially favourable for forest along the lower floodplain. www.doc.govt.nz wetland formation. Peatlands (bogs and ) are a major component, although many other wetland Dune slack wetlands form in hollows where the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement types are also found here: swamps, , wind has eroded sand down to the water table. Trust (the Waiau Trust www.waiautrust.org.nz/ lagoons, dune lakes, dune slacks, flood plains and Here you’ll find patches of rushes sedges and turf. terrace forests. Good examples can be seen at Oreti Beach near Waituna Landcare Group . www.farmnews.co.nz/waituna/waiindex.shtml The 21,000 hectare Awarua-Waituna Wetland complex is the largest Ramsar1 site in New The Southland region includes: Southland Community Nursery Zealand. Stretching from Fortrose to Bluff www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz

Harbour, it includes huge peatlands formed after • Awarua-Waituna Wetlands the last ice age, a coastal lagoon, freshwater The Southland Wetland Working party in streams and three major estuaries. • New River and Fortrose Estuary. association with the National Wetland Trust has

The peatlands are home to some highly created a Driving Trail guide. • Lower Mataura floodplain (O’Neil”s bush). Pick up a copy at a local information centre or specialised species including sphagnum moss, wire-rush, fernbirds and Australasian download from: • Lake George. www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/Site/Visiting_Wetlands.ashx bittern. The winds, cool climate, mists, wet, and low nutrients of the peatland have encouraged • Rakatu Wetlands and Redcliff Wildlife hardy alpine plants to make their home near sea Reserve. Southland wetlands can be very exposed and level for over 10 thousand years. isolated. Be prepared for variable weather in

• Bluff wetland complex any season. It’s a good idea to carry warm and From spring to late autumn the Waituna lagoon waterproof clothing, and sunblock, as well as and estuaries become the feeding grounds for adequate food and water. Let someone thousands of migratory waders from the northern responsible know where you are going and hemisphere. More than 80 bird species have been Read more about Southland Wetlands: when to expect you to be back. Mobile phone recorded here. www.es.govt.nz/environment/land/wetlands/ coverage may be patchy in some areas.

1 Ramsar sites are wetlands of international Updated 6 May 2020 importance. Produced by the National Wetland Trust with support from:

These sites are listed in order of visitor experience. Use our Google Map or Google Earth Tour to plan your route.

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information

Waituna Lagoon is a bird lover’s paradise, visited seasonally by thousands of waders including international migrants like the Eastern bar-tailed godwit and www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/southland/places/awarua-waituna- rare locals like the southern NZ dotterel. It is also home year-round to natives wetlands/

like crake, fernbird and Australasian bittern (matuku). www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/get-involved/ramsar-wetlands/awarua-waituna-lagoon/

It was the high number of waterfowl and its diverse habitats and species that www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/awarua-wetlands-lowres.pdf Waituna Lagoon led to the lagoon and adjacent peatlands becoming New Zealand's first listed wetland of international significance (Ramsar site) in 1976.

Awarua-Waituna There are 80 moth species in the peatlands, some found nowhere else, while

Ramsar site / coastal the streams, pools and the lagoon support native fish like the giant kokopu, lagoon banded kokopu, inanga, and lamprey. Its flora is also fascinating with sub- alpine plant species growing here near sea-level, and tiny insect-eating Waituna Lagoon lies 40 km south east from Invercargill at the end of Waghorn Road.  sundews and bladderwort plants. The lagoon formed when water from streams crossing the Southland Plains A good short walk to start with is the Boardwalk Track at the end of Waghorn Road. This became trapped by a gravel bar built up over time by coastal currents. It is winds through low-growing manuka and shrubs to a viewing shelter overlooking Waituna Lagoon (10 min return). Information panels provide a wealth of information about the periodically open to the sea, either naturally or by bulldozer to reduce flooding wetland. Continuing from there is a 2 km loop track, allowing close up viewing of peatland of surrounding farmland, so its water varies from fresh to brackish waters. The plants and a good chance to hear and see fernbirds. wetlands are well used for whitebaiting, fishing, gamebird hunting and kayaking. The Beach Track provides access to the spectacular, white quartz beach and is on an unmarked track off Waituna Lagoon Road. The beach walk begins with a gentle climb over a The 3500 ha Waituna Lagoon Ramsar site was expanded in 2008 to include loose gravel bank. Once on the beach walking is easy and can be as long (or short) as you the Awarua peatlands and adjacent estuaries, some 21,000 hectares in total. desire.

The Outlet Track (1.5 hr one way) can be reached on foot along the beach or by small boat or kayak inside the lagoon at high tide or when the outlet is closed.

KEY

Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interpretation Lookout/ Picnic area Accommodation Swimming or shooting scenic centre panels bird hide snorkelling

Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information

This is another great place for bird watching so take binoculars or a telescope. Awarua Bay The area holds the second highest number of waders and a greater number of species than other sites in Southland. It also attracts rare visitors to New Zealand such as Siberian tattler, greenshank and sanderling. Most migratory Awarua-Waituna waders are present from October to late March but some of the more common www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/southland/places/awarua-waituna- wetlands/ Ramsar site/ species are present through the winter. They feed on the rich taking peatlands marine worms, crustaceans, shellfish, and small fish from the shallows. The saltmarsh and adjoining peatland vegetation provides feeding areas and Travel towards the Tiwai smelter from Invercargill to the bridge over Awarua Bay. Turn left  nesting cover for other threatened species including Australasian bitterns, and follow the road to a parking area at Muddy Creek. To reach wader feeding areas and marsh crakes, spotless crakes and fernbirds. roosts, walk around the head of the bay and be prepared for some knee-deep wading. Although birds can be seen at any stage of the tide, the best viewing is during high tide (1 to 1.5 hours after Bluff.

This intriguingly named and tarn system makes sense when viewed from the air - the multi-lobed and its nucleus-shaped Spirit Lake in the middle www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go//places/fiordland-national- look like a giant amoeba nestled in the spectacular Amoeboid Mire park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track-rainbow-reach-to-shallow-bay-or-moturau-hut/ near .

Bog and tarn Located on a terrace that formed as the Manapouri glacier melted, the bog Accessed via the from the Rainbow Reach carpark, 12 km south of Te Anau, vegetation is dominated by sphagnum moss, other mosses and wirerush with a off State Highway 95 between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri.  range of herbs, shrubs and other plants including including insect-eating sundews. Other plants of interest include the yellow-silver pine and pygmy pine The Amoeboid Mire is an easy 45–60 min walk one way, on a good track following the - both uncommon at low altitudes. terrace through beech forest. A 200 m boardwalk has information panels and a lookout over the tarn and mire. You can continue on for another hour to Moturau Hut with access to a beach on . Return by the same track to the car park. Balloon Loop (an oxbow of the Waiau River) is along this track.

Lake Te Anau is a beautiful lake with a stunning mountain backdrop in is in south-west New Zealand, Fiordland National Park. Fiordland National Park, part of - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Connected to it via a short stretch of the Waiau River is You can walk around the shores of Lake Te Anau to some swimming and picnicking equally stunning Lake Manapouri, site of an underground hydroelectric power beaches, or up the Waiau River to Balloon Loop and Rainbow Reach on sections of the Lake Te Anau and Kepler Track. Both start at the Kepler Track carpark at the southern end of Lake Te Anau, scheme that you can visit on an organised boat trip. Balloon Loop and Rainbow Lake Manapouri about 5 km from Te Anau off Golf Course Road. Rainbow Reach is a2 ½ hour walk from the Reach are sections of the Waiau River that have been cut off to form oxbows control gates, with Balloon Loop further along. that now support swampy fens. Balloon Loop was cut through in Easter 1974 Lakes when a great wall of water was released suddenly from the Te Anau control For a shorter access to the oxbow lakes you can start from the car park at the end of structure during major floods. Rainbow Reach Road, off the Te Anau-Manapouri Highway. From the carpark head towards  Te Anau for Rainbow Reach or towards the Moturau Hut and Amoeboid Mire to reach Balloon Loop.

3 Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information

A series of spring-fed remnant wetlands in old channels of the Waiau River, Rakatu Wetlands this area is the focus of a very ambitious restoration project led by The Waiau www.waiautrust.org.nz/waterways/rakatu-wetlands and Redcliff Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust. The Trust has protected 65 ha of natural wetlands, created 50 ha of open water habitat for fish (native and Wildlife Reserve introduced trout) and birdlife, and established 9 km of public walking tracks, Signposted on the (SH99), 60 kms north of , 17 kms south visitor facilities and interpretative panels. of Manapouri. Take the 1.4 km gravel road to Rakatu Wetlands carpark. Swamp and riverine wetland complex The open water, native wetland vegetation and regenerating shrublands From the car park, 10 km of trails offer a range of walk options. For a good overview of the provide great habitat for a variety of species (32 bird and 7 fish species have wetland, take the 10 min uphill track to a lookout. An alternative 10 min track leads to the  been recorded). This is a favoured locality for the native black teal (NZ scaup). Waiau River. There are two loop tracks to choose from:Speight Wetland Loop, 1 hr and Rakatu Wetland Loop, 2-3 hr

From the Redcliffs Reserve Lookout, 2.5 km north of the Rakatu entrance you can look down over an oxbow lagoon of the Waiau River system. Pull in to car park on left hand side of road. A remote wetland site for the more adventurous traveller with a reasonable Freshwater River level of fitness. Highly intact and pristine wetland with a mosaic of acid bog, pools, manuka/wire rush peat lands, manuka shrubland, red tussock areas and River and peatland patches of podocarp forest that extend for some 23 km along the Freshwater www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/southland/places/stewart-island- complex Valley to the inter-tidal mudflats at the river mouth. The valley contains a rakiura/rakiura-national-park/things-to-do/southern-circuit-stewart-island-rakiura/ diversity of plant communities and wildlife species. Birdlife includes Stewart  Island robin, Stewart Island fernbird, and there is a good possibility of even

seeing kiwi in daylight. Situated on Stewart Island's Rakiura Southern Circuit Track. Requires a 4 hr (mostly flat) walk from Masons Bay (accessible via small plane) or water taxi from Oban to Freshwater Landing. Lake Mistletoe is a 20 ha glacial lake nestled in beech forest and regenerating manuka shrubland can be viewed from a loop track at Te Anau Downs. It www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national- provides excellent habitat for a range of waterfowl and rare species including park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-mistletoe-track/ South Island fernbird, scaup (NZ black teal) and nationally threatened giant Lake Mistletoe kokopu. www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national- park/things-to-do/tracks/mirror-lakes-walk/ and Mirror Lakes The Mirror Lakes are located beside the Milford Highway and are famous for Take the Milford Road (State Highway 94) 27 km (30 min drive) north from Te Anau towards Glacial lakes their clear water and mountain reflections on a calm day. The clear water the Fiordland National Park Lodge. A clear signpost marks the parking area at the head of a  allows you to sometimes watch the underwater antics of diving ducks (scaup). 10 min one-way walking track through native forest to the lake. Suitable for all ages.

The Mirror Lakes are right beside the highway, well-signposted, about 50 mins drive from Te Anau.

4 Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information O’Neil’s Bush, A walk among the tall trees of O’Neill’s Bush enables you to experience a Lower Mataura floodplain podocarp forest remnant. An unusual feature is the presence of www.sern.org.nz/project-directory/oneills-bush-mataura-floodplain/ floodplain silver beech, established from seed washed down the from the upper reaches. Three local schools, , Tokanui and , About 30 mins drive from Invercargill along the Tokanui Gorge Road, 1 km beyond the Chisholm Rd turnoff look for the native forest stand on the right hand side of the road (not have planted hundreds of native plants here, and the regional council Semi-swamp forest / signposted). Pull in to small carpark on the south side of road where a small sign will (Environment Southland) controls pests and weeds. restoration project confirm you have found the right place.

A short walking track through towering kahikatea and other podocarp trees, with some  information panels.

This area is a rich habitat for wildlife, with a range of waterfowl species and New River Estuary international migratory wading birds. In fact, the area holds the highest https://southlandnz.com/invercargill/walking-tramping/invercargill-estuary-walkway

numbers of migratory waders of any of Southland’s estuaries. Bring binoculars Access the track from the car park at the Stead Street Wharf where you can see a replica Awarua-Waituna or scopes. The area has been restored thanks to an intensive rehabilitation Ramsar site/ estuary Lady Barkly steam train and fishing cutter. From central Invercargill, head west towards the project led by the council and local community. Visitors can enjoy a 4.7 km airport on Tweed Street, but turn left just before crossing the Waihopai River (follow the walking /cycling loop track around the lagoon and estuary margins. Thousands signpost to Stead Street Wharf). Other access points are further south off the Bluff Highway.  of native plants have been established, wildlife habitats restored, and people have been invited to enjoy the natural setting and diverse birdlife. The 4.7 km track has interpretation panels, seating, and a shelter. High ground between Daffodil Bay and Hatch's Hill provides good views over the New River Estuary. Allow at least an hour to walk the Loop Track around the lagoon. Walk across the Roger Sutton Boardwalk that winds through the oioi (jointed rush) of Pleasure Bay Lagoon. Along the way take a look at the remains of the historic railway trestle bridge from the lagoon beach lookout. Fortrose Estuary This is where the Mataura River meets the sea after flowing 190 km from its (Toetoes Harbour) www.visit-newzealand.co.nz/catlins/fortrose.html source in the Eyre Mountains south of . Together with the Oreti and Aparima rivers, the Mataura has created the Murihiku (Southland) Plain. Awarua-Waituna The lower reaches of the Mataura River, and the smaller Stream to the From Invercargill head east towards Coast, take the Tokanui-Gorge Road Ramsar site/ estuary east, are important whitebait fishing spots (whitebait are the young of several Highway into Fortrose village. You can walk along the foreshore from Moray Terrace and native fish species including inanga and the threatened giant kokopu). around the headland, or drive over Boat Harbour Beach Road (gravel road) for a view over  the swirling Mataura River mouth. At low tide you can see the shipwreck of an old steamer 'Ino' in the mouth of the estuary. The Estuary is a popular place for water sports. The view from the summit of Bluff Hill / Motupohue reveals how dominant https://icc.govt.nz/parks-and-reserves/visit-our-parks/bluff-hill/ Bluff Hill / estuaries are in the landscape of Southland, and why collectively they provide Motupōhue Approx. 27 km south of Invercargill. such an important habitat for wildlife. The plant communities of Motupohue

range from original rata and kamahi forest to wind-shorn coastal shrubland and Coastal wetland Topuni Track: Stirling Point to Bluff Hilltop (50 minutes one way). A short track from ground-hugging coastal moor. complex Stirling Point climbs steeply past the WWII gun emplacement to meet the Tópuni Track, Gunpit Road access and Glory Track. The Topuni Track continues up an undulating path (steep in parts) through regenerating forest and coastal shrub lands to the summit of Bluff  Hill

5 Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information

Home Creek www.waiautrust.org.nz/waterways/home-creek-manapouri Home Creek is a naturally meandering stream moving through glacial outwash (Manapouri) gravels near Te Anau. The stream originates from the to the northeast and enters the Waiau River not far below this area. The stream www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/fiordland- Meandering stream water quality is very good and this stretch is an important trout fishery. day-walks.pdf Restoration work by the Waiau Trust includes willow and broom control, native  plantings of silver tussock and beech, and 1.6 km circular walking/mountain bike track, with amazing views of the Fiordland mountains as a backdrop. 1km east of Manapouri township and accessible via a sign-posted public road from the Manapouri-Hillside Road. The road ends at a car park. Toilets available in Manapouri.

Jacobs River 30 km west of Invercargill. Accessible via Southern Scenic Route, north entrance to Fed by the Aparima and Pourakino Rivers, which lead through a narrow Riverton. Estuary outflow channel into , the Jacobs River Estuary is home to native and migrant waterfowl. The Riverton Estuary Care Society has a number of Te Wai Korari Reserve walk: just after the Riverton waterworks, on the right hand side of Estuary / restoration projects on and around the estuary. Among them is the 6 ha Te Wai Korari the road as you come in to Riverton from the direction of Invercargill. This 20 min circular project Wetland Reserve, a cooperative effort between a local Landcare group and walk leads down to a circular track through the wetland. students from a number of Southland schools. The project to create waterways  to encourage whitebait began 7 years ago with the purchase of estuary side Mores Coastal Loop Track 2 hours return farmland due to be ‘worked-up’. The flax swamp was fenced, tracks were As part of the Mores Scenic Reserve, Riverton, this track emerges from coastal forest and follows marker posts along the beaches and rocky outcrops of the southern coastline. The formed, waterways were dug and bridged and work begun with removing pest track is best walked in an anti-clockwise direction from the car park. plants. Students from local schools have planted native trees, built a clay dam for a freshwater and undertaken studies of whitebait, wetland birds, and Taramea Bay Walkway, up to 2 hours. This easy coastal walk follows a gravel track water quality. between Riverton Rocks and the Jacobs River Bridge. The length of the walk can be adjusted to suit individual needs with start/finish points at Bay Road, Towack Street, Taramea Bay Road and Rocks Highway. Southland’s largest coastal lake, is part of a remnant peatland. Over 110 Uruwera / Lake Approx 45 mins from Invercargill. Follow the Southern Scenic Route from Invercargill to native species have been recorded, including rare native musk and water George Riverton and beyond, past Colac Bay to the Ward Road turnoff. Turn left opposite Ward Rd milfoil. The area is known as Uruwera to iwi (local Maori) and provides into a small carpark area. Take care here as the road verge is not wide. mahinga kai (food) including tuna (eels), inaka (whitebait) and waterfowl. Lowland lake Follow a rough track 120 m to edge of lake, where an interpretation panel is sited. Please  watch children carefully as you are close to water here and there is no clear track to follow.

6 Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

Wetlands to visit in Southland

Name Features / Facilities (see key) Access, further information

Thomson’s Bush on the northern edge of Invercargill City is a remnant of the www.sern.org.nz/project-directory/waihopai-dam-wetlands-invercargill/

Thomson’s Bush mainly kahikatea swamp forest that once covered much of the Southland area. The native vegetation is dominated by kahikatea, matai and lowland www.atoz-nz.com/invercargill.asp and Waihopai ribbonwood.

Dam Wetland Thomson’s Bush, just 4 km north of Invercargill’s main Tweed Street, and provides Waihopai Dam is a small (1 hectare) pond formed behind a dam on the edge of opportunities for short walks and picnics. Located on both sides of Queens Drive on the Swamp the Waihopai River. The wetland has been fenced off from stock and its edges northern side of the City. planted in flax, tussock, toetoe and cabbage trees. It attracts waterfowl and  sustains fish and eels. The Waihopai Dam can be visited from Auburn Rd, north east of Invercargill. A walkway follows the Waihopai River from the Dam west to Thomson’s Bush (2.5 km) and south to the Stead Street Bridge. The entire 15km loop may take 4.5 hours but it can be enjoyed in

sections. The main access points are at Stead Street, North Road, Queens Drive and Racecourse Road. www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/lord-of-the-rings-locations/ This is a highly significant wetland - the largest peat bog in Te Anau basin and Kepler Mire one of the best string in New Zealand. String bogs are very rare in the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler_Mire Southern Hemisphere, being found mostly in arctic areas. The site is Bog immortalised in film as the "Dead " in trilogy. Access is limited, hence the single star visitation value, but parts of the wetland can be viewed from Mt York Road.

 You can watch a short video clip of the Kepler from the air on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O6fBU88ONw www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and- The Borland Mire, one of only a few wetlands of its type remaining in New walks/southland/borland-lake-monowai-grebe-valley-tracks-brochure.pdf Zealand, formed in a depression in glacial outwash at the end of the last ice

Borland age. Over thousands of years, vegetation built up over the outwash gravels Turn of the Southern Scenic Route between Clifden and Manapouri onto forming a , so the pond stands higher than the surrounding ground. Road. After 10km the road splits, with the left road going to Lake Monowai and the right to The Grebe Valley is also known for its exceptional wetlands, which are home Bogs and tarns Borland Lodge and Borland Road. to diverse array of threatened native wildlife and plant species like the small native buttercup Ranunculus ternatifolius and tufted hair grass. A number of Access to the wetlands themselves is limited, hence the single star visitation value, but parts  walks in the area offer views over the wetlands. of the wetland system can be viewed from Borland Road and high points along walking trails.

7 Must see Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing