Palliser Bay. The South.

Contrary to popular belief, the most southerly point of the North Island is not Wellington. The island actually curves down and around to the east, going quite a bit further south than the capital.

Cape Palliser in the Wairarapa is actually the southern-most point, and this is where we chose to spend our latest holiday. It's a wild and lonely place - but so beautiful.

Our accommodation was in one of the Department of Conservations huts/cottages, and we brought another family along (and their dog Freddie) with us. Much of our time was spent playing cards (the adults) and building mud & stick dens in the surrounding bush (the kids).  The adult card game went on for 72 hours....and I do have to mention here that the girls team won! ;)

Thanks to the fault lines and mountain ranges that criss cross this part of New Zealand, the scenery is rugged and spectacular, with steep cliffs and unique rock formations. The Southern-most point is marked by a lighthouse - which is still working (but these days fully automated by a computer in Wellington).






There are hundreds of steps up to the lighthouse (we know because we got the kids to count them - they

counted 175, the sign said 255!), but it's so worth it as the views are fantastic!

(Just don't look past the step in front of you on the way back down - it's pretty hairy!)

There are also alot of seals around this part of the coastline, and we saw so many I completely lost count! On the rocks, on the beaches, swimming and playing in the water. Pretty awesome.