Wetlands you can visit in Southland With only 10% of original wetlands remaining Swamps and floodplains have been extensively Southland Wetland Agencies throughout New Zealand, Southland is fortunate to modified by land development. Kahikatea swamp 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 Manapouri 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 Mataura floodplain. www.doc.govt.nz wetland formation. Peatlands (bogs and fens) 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, estuaries, 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 Invercargill. 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 Estuary 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 Southland Plains 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, South Island 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 marsh 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, eels 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 mudflats 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 bog and tarn system makes sense when viewed from the air - the multi-lobed mire and its nucleus-shaped Spirit Lake in the middle www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national- look like a giant amoeba nestled in the spectacular Fiordland National Park Amoeboid Mire park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track-rainbow-reach-to-shallow-bay-or-moturau-hut/ near Te Anau. Bog and tarn Located on a terrace that formed as the Manapouri glacier melted, the bog Accessed via the Kepler Track 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. Waiau River 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 Lake Manapouri. 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 Lake Te Anau is in south-west New Zealand, Fiordland National Park. Fiordland National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu - 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.