Curio Bay

Curio Bay lies on the southern coast of New Zealand, about as far south as you can go. There were three reasons to stop there for the night: penguins, dolphins and a petrified forest.

The resident penguins are a very rare type called the yellow-eyed penguin. Their numbers are dwindling because of avian diphtheria. It is estimated that there may be only 4000 of these endangered birds remaining.

hector's dolphin captured from a video frame

Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest, come to the area to raise their young in the calm shallow waters. Naturally curious, they will often swim around the visiting humans.

humans are no match for these natural surfers

petrified log

When the tide is out, the remains of a 180 million year old forest is revealed. Logs and stumps have turned to stone and are preserved where they grew. Fascinating!

petrified tree stump

Sam is a Department of Conservation volunteer. He spends a month on the shores of Curio Bay  protecting the nesting yellow-eyed penguins from encroaching tourists.

He was happy tell us what he knew about the penguins, dolphins and the petrified forest... and have his picture taken with Gail!