After checking with the holiday park office, we were pleased to find out that the road south had been reopened so our road trip was back in business. On the way to Dunedin we stopped at the Moeraki boulders, a collection of almost perfectly spherical rocks. Some of the boulders are huge and we had a good time clambering on, and in one case in, these strange rocks. Seeing even more of the boulders sticking out from the cliff face ready to fall, just adds to the spectacle.
Heading back to our trusty campervan we continued our journey to Dunedin. Making good time, we safely negotiated the city’s one way system and arrived at yet another top ten holiday park. With plenty of supplies on board we made ourselves comfortable and settled in for the night.
Dunedin is New Zealand’s so called ‘Scottish city’. The city has been modelled on Edinburgh, complete with a statue of Robert Burns. The city seems quite nice, but we wouldn’t recommend visiting on a Sunday unless you like the look of closed shops. One of the more notable buildings in the city centre, aside from the towering cathedral, is the beautiful train station. Looking not unlike a Lego castle from the outside, inside you are greeted by beautiful tiled floors and walls, complete with old lanterns and stained glass windows.
Leaving the city behind we headed out to the nearby Otago Peninsula, following the wonderfully scenic road that leads eventually to Taiaroa Head, home of the world’s only mainland albatross colony. We had a brief look around the visitors centre, but decided that the rather steep entrance fee to see nesting albatross was too much for us. After the disappointment of not seeing any penguins in Oamaru, we decided to visit the nearby Yellow Eyed penguin colony. A local farmer, realising that he had a penguin colony on his land, has built a huge labyrinth of hides and has set about protecting their habitat in the hope that their numbers will increase. The entrance fee is once again quite steep, but there is nowhere else in the world where you will get to see these extremely rare penguins close up. We were delighted to see 15 penguins coming in from the sea to rest after days at sea fishing. With the light fading we set off back to Dunedin and our campsite. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable day, but it was time to get some sleep before we left the next morning bound for Milford.
Heading back to our trusty campervan we continued our journey to Dunedin. Making good time, we safely negotiated the city’s one way system and arrived at yet another top ten holiday park. With plenty of supplies on board we made ourselves comfortable and settled in for the night.
Dunedin is New Zealand’s so called ‘Scottish city’. The city has been modelled on Edinburgh, complete with a statue of Robert Burns. The city seems quite nice, but we wouldn’t recommend visiting on a Sunday unless you like the look of closed shops. One of the more notable buildings in the city centre, aside from the towering cathedral, is the beautiful train station. Looking not unlike a Lego castle from the outside, inside you are greeted by beautiful tiled floors and walls, complete with old lanterns and stained glass windows.
Leaving the city behind we headed out to the nearby Otago Peninsula, following the wonderfully scenic road that leads eventually to Taiaroa Head, home of the world’s only mainland albatross colony. We had a brief look around the visitors centre, but decided that the rather steep entrance fee to see nesting albatross was too much for us. After the disappointment of not seeing any penguins in Oamaru, we decided to visit the nearby Yellow Eyed penguin colony. A local farmer, realising that he had a penguin colony on his land, has built a huge labyrinth of hides and has set about protecting their habitat in the hope that their numbers will increase. The entrance fee is once again quite steep, but there is nowhere else in the world where you will get to see these extremely rare penguins close up. We were delighted to see 15 penguins coming in from the sea to rest after days at sea fishing. With the light fading we set off back to Dunedin and our campsite. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable day, but it was time to get some sleep before we left the next morning bound for Milford.
1 comment:
Hi!
Can't believe you passed on the opportunity to see albatross! I was distraught after our plans to see them in South Africa failed as it was too windy for the boat.
Anyway, I lost your email address because I'm a fool. I have a new address. Same as before but @googlemail.com instead of hotmail.
Keep on enjoying yourselves!
Helen
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