Southland Bound

May 22, 2025
2 min read

Wednesday 21 May

On the move again - this time heading for Gore, the Brown Trout Fishing Capital of the World. I got up fairly early for me and went for a wander down the street next to the NZMCA - despite being late autumn, there were some stunning hydrangeas in bloom, as well as some late roses and other winter colour. So pretty on a grey autumn day.

While Abby got some work under her belt, the three unemployed ones popped into town to get some damp crystals to prevent any mould and damp in Banjo over the cold winter months - and I fell in love with these two adorable miniature long haired dachshunds who were out shopping too - they were soooo cute! Back at the camp I also got chatting to a fellow camper who has 2 small dogs and a chocolate brown cat sharing the caravan with him and his wife... the dogs only go out on leads, but Jillie is free to roam all day and is very smoochie!

Abby, Jez and Louis all wanted a coffee so we took a wee detour to my favourite Dunedin cafe the Black Street Store out towards Baldwin Street. First time we came here they were about to close, and this time it was Day 3 of Deborah Diet so again I was cruelly deprived of their delicious looking baking & cabinet food! But I could still admire the quirky style of the place and their well presented offerings!

After scouring the NZMCA app we narrowed down the best place to stay with power and set off from Dunedin around lunchtime. Retracing our steps from early April we headed south & west through weak autumn sunshine - the sheep seemed woollier and the larch leaves had all but disappeared leaving skeletal tree outlines dotted across the landscape. Waihola, Milton, Balclutha & Clinton all felt vaguely familiar as we passed through.

We pulled into the A&P Showgrounds at Gore and got two powered space adjacent to each other. Good timing as the Tussocks Country Festival starts later this week and the place is booked solid from Friday onwards.