Continuing along the Southern Scenic Route from Invercargill, we stopped for coffee and cheese rolls (!) at a lovely old cafe in Riverton, Mrs Clark's. While in Riverton we also drove along the sea to Riverton Rocks.
Gemstone Beach was another minor disappointment. It is possible to pick up coloured polished mineral-rich rocks (hence the name), but only after a storm has piled the stones up on the beach. When we visited, it was just sand.
We drove to Hump Ridge Track (off to the west just past Tuatapere, toward Puysegur Point), of which Margaret walked an hour or so while I sat in the car and wrote up my diary, and read. We then drove 28km or so off the main road, past many eucalyptus plantations (which we later learned were destined to be made into glossy paper) to see Lake Hauroko, the deepest lake in NZ at 462 m. Then we backtracked a little and booked a night at the Waiau Hotel, Tuatapere.

Map points: Invercargill, Riverton, Colac Bay, Gemstone Beach, Humpback Ridge, Tuatapere

Picture: Lake Hauroko