Has the view changed in 1000 years?
Overlooking the Takakopa Estuary. Early Maori left evidence of their shellfish diet. The river has exposed the layers seen in the cutaway.

Tahakopa Beach
Plenty of time to talk and enjoy the cooling sea breezes

It can be windy at times
Old forest, seen here at the northern end of the beach,
 rarely comes down to the sea on this side of New Zealand.

Looking back to Papatowai
3 km away

The Cliffs
Captain Cook could see these cliffs from
the Endeavour in 1771. They are not chalk but covered in white lichens.

Pillan's Beach
Looked placid enough but note the wave breaking
on the cliff in mid picture.
Surfers come from round the world to the Catlins.

A cove with no name
A sheltered spot for lunch and
to admire the force of the sea

Peat at Pillan's Bay
Ancient forest remains exposed by erosion of sand dunes

Pillan's Stream Falls
Just a few meters off the track and
well worth the diversion.

Abandoned
When the timber felling declined and working small farms became uneconomic many people left the area.