Bluff, New Zealand
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Bluff is a town and seaport in the Southland region, on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the southern-most town in New Zealand and, despite Stewart Island/Rakiura being further to the south, is colloquially used to refer to the southern extremity of the country (particularly in such phrases as "from Cape Reinga to The Bluff").
Bluff is at the end of a peninsula that forms the western side of Bluff Harbour and Awarua Bay, with the port located in the relatively narrow entrance channel. It is on State Highway 1, which terminates one kilometre to the south of the town at Stirling Point. Here at Stirling point, one can find a signpost depicting the distance and direction to various major cities and locations around the world, including the Equator and the South Pole.
Bluff is 30 km by road from Invercargill, and the southern terminus of the Bluff Branch, the continuation from Invercargill of the Main South Line. This was one of New Zealand's earliest railways, opening on 5 February 1867.
According to the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings the usually resident population was 1935, a decrease of 150 since 1996.
Among the attractions of the town is the Paua house, created by the (now deceased) Fred and Myrtle Flutey. This house was an ordinary bungalow transformed by having the outside walls totally covered in paua shells. The interior is also extensively decorated with paua and there is an extensive collection of (often kitsch) paua-decorated ornaments, utensils and trinkets. The house is now a museum. Sadly the house was sold and in March 2007 the exhibits removed to Christchurch.
Bluff is dominated by Bluff Hill, an extinct volcanic cone which provides some shelter from the prevailing westerly winds.There is a world class walk along the shore through native bush up to this point. The town is named for this bluff, which was known to early whalers as Old Man's Bluff or Old Man Bluff. Across the channel from Bluff is Tiwai Point, home to New Zealand's only aluminium smelter and its wharf.
Bluff Harbour is the terminus for the twice-daily catamaran ferry to Stewart Island/Rakiura, 60 km south across Foveaux Strait.It is the main gateway for NZ ships heading down to the Antarctic. The harbour is also home to the Foveaux Strait oyster fleet. Bluff oysters are renowned for their succulence and flavour, and are considered a delicacy nationwide. Unfortunately the oyster quota was severely reduced during the late 1990s due to the effects of the toxic protozoan parasite Bonamia exitiosa upon the oyster beds.
[edit] References
- Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
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