Queen Elizabeth II
National Trust

Redcliffs Wetland : This area was developed by the former Southland Acclimatisation Society, now Fish and Game Southland. Although a natural wetland with some water in the old river bend ( oxbow ), the potential to improve it was seen, and two dams were constructed, resulting in the 44ha of clear water that you can see from the lookout today. This area provides an important waterfowl site, with paradise shelduck and Scaup found in numbers here not seen anywhere else. Also in residence are black swan, Canada geese, grey teal, shoveller, Mallard and the ocassional grey duck.

How to Find It : Redcliffs is situated on the Southern Scenic Route in Western Southland. It is south of the Mararoa Weir on the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd. There is a parking area by the road, with picnic tables, with a wonderful lookout over the wetland area. ( Binoculars are well worth having along.)

Te Wai Korari : A flax swamp which was purchased by the Riverton Estuary Care Society in 1998
This area had been farmed with drains excavated through it, however being low-lying as it is, this was not very successful.

The Estuary Care Society saw the potential for restoring the natural habitat and have begun this major task. One of their main goals was the preservation of the whitebait habitat, which with pond building they have enhanced. A track has been created to allow a good explore of this area, and it is not uncommon to see schools of the small fish swimming under the bridge at the entrance way to the track. Unfortunately the presence of gorse and broom means any disturbance, past or present, leads to an explosion of these pest plants, and this is one of the major hurdles that has to be overcome. Assistance from Taskforce Green and community workers in weed control has been much appreciated, and work by the YMCA Cons Corp on track creation has been of great value too. A recent sighting of a bittern here is exciting, and the flax/shrubland habitat is ideal fernbird country, and the hope is that one day they will return to this area too.

How to Find It : Te Wai Korari is on the Southern Scenic Route at the eastern entrance to Riverton. Watch for the sign on the right hand side, just before the hard left bend, about a kilometre after the race course. An off road parking area is planned, but in the meantime there is sufficient room to pull over on the road edge. Follow the track down and you will see the beginning of the gravelled walking track. This will take you out to the estuary edge, where you can follow up to an entrance off the estuary and walk back down through the northern part of the area ( the second part of the track is not gravelled as yet. )