So here we go again on a whistle stop tour through the Catlins National Park. This beautiful area of relatively untouched temperate rainforest is situated on the east coast of the South Island between Dunedin and Invercargil and makes for a handy evening stop-off for me while travelling between cities with my work.

This time I decided to make a brief visit to Punakaiki Falls and upon entering the dark forest from the carpark am greeted by moss and epyphitic ferns dripping from every branch.

Here's a close-up of that tangled mess of filmy fern and moss.

The forest in this particular area is dark, damp and cold - perfect territory for Cyathea smithii.

Like menacing gatekeepers these smithiis arch over the pathway.