Otautau Council Sports
Ground (powered)
Wow! We wouldn’t have even known about this secret sleepy town
off the beaten track if it wasn’t for my fellow pro-nature supporter, Shane who is lucky enough to live here with his family.
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| View over Otautau from the nearby hillside |
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| The campground at Otautau was empty. Adjacent to the Rugby pitch. |
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| Wearing those wellys - sorry I mean gumboots - with pride! Go Shane! :) |
What a gem of a place! The campsite (adjacent to the Rugby ground) we stayed at, we had virtually to ourselves and we were situated just a few minutes walk from the historic town. Lots of solid architecture here - from early 1900's to art deco and some real eclectic villas...
The Otautau hotel (where we had dinner) were keyholders of the facilities at the camp and (at last!) had a proper wifi connection. Phew! What a relief to finally download a few podcasts and other items – including some work things that need some attention after all this time away!
As well as talking hunting and nature with Shane, we went fishing at the nearby Aparima River and enjoyed seeing so much insect life and native birds - what a welcome change from all the depressing silence and poison signs around Te Anau.
There's something in my psyche that feels uncomfortable around skull and cross-bone signs.
Here we were free and the pressure was off having to keep an eye on Dizzy 24/7.
I also discovered a wonderful lady called Pamela - a former Kentish lass too originally - who has refurbished the old church in the centre of town and turned into a haven for local arts and crafts. Otautau Gallery has lots of lovely original artefacts and items of history too, and I couldn't help myself when I spotted something handmade in NZ for my friend who is expecting her first child in a few weeks. (secret!)
So many skills artists around Southland, and such a wonderful location to showcase them in this old church.
Meanwhile, Dizzy could enjoy gnawing on her antler horns that Shane had given her (brilliant for doggie teeth-cleaning).
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| Dizzy enjoying a laze in the sun while Justin is fishing... |
There's something in my psyche that feels uncomfortable around skull and cross-bone signs.
Here we were free and the pressure was off having to keep an eye on Dizzy 24/7.
 |
| Otautau Gallery - restored from the original church |
I also discovered a wonderful lady called Pamela - a former Kentish lass too originally - who has refurbished the old church in the centre of town and turned into a haven for local arts and crafts. Otautau Gallery has lots of lovely original artefacts and items of history too, and I couldn't help myself when I spotted something handmade in NZ for my friend who is expecting her first child in a few weeks. (secret!)
So many skills artists around Southland, and such a wonderful location to showcase them in this old church.
Meanwhile, Dizzy could enjoy gnawing on her antler horns that Shane had given her (brilliant for doggie teeth-cleaning).
I caught my first ever wild NZ wild brown trout here on the Aparima river- of course the big one got away but it was seen by Dizzy and The Dr so it did really happen.
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