06 Feb - Oamaru to Dunedin

After a late start as we sorted out the RV and did some chores (laundry), we continued down the coast to the city of Dunedin. Dunedin is fairly good sized by South Island standards (pop 148,000) and home to a university.

Along the way we stopped at the Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach. The native peoples of New Zealand, the Maori, attached certain legends to the nearly spherical boulders located in this single spot.

An interesting aspect of our trip was the Maori influence on New Zealand. The Maori are thought to have come from the same islands, The Marquesas, as the original Hawaiians. Despite the vast gulf in time and geography the cultures and language remained relatively similar as with other Polynesian cultures. Thus many of the native names like Moeraki or Koehohe look similar to Hawaiian names.

Boulders in the background. Beautiful beach.

Zach ponders

Here's the up-close

On the way back to the RV - Chariots of Andy

After the boys soaked their only pair of shoes and ran out some energy we piled back in the RV and headed into Dunedin for lunch and then out the Otago Peninsula which is considered the wildlife capital of New Zealand.

The Dunedin train station

We traveled the very scenic road along the Otago Harbor on the northern edge of the peninsula. Quite thrilling considering the road was on a ten foot cliff above the water, barely two lanes wide, very curvy and there was no guard rail.

Otago Peninsula just east of Dunedin

Along Otago Harbor looking back on the city of Dunedin

Once out at Harington Point we stopped at the Royal Albatross Center. This is a conservation center providing education on and husbandry for a colony of Royal Albatrosses. Tours to walk out to the colony were pretty expensive and after all, these things were flying around so we took in the beautiful scenery and pressed back down the peninsula to our RV park.

A Royal Albatross, kinda like a giant sea gull. Check.

Looking back down Otago Harbor from the Royal Albatross Center

We stopped in at a penguin center to check on a tour. They promised we would see penguins, but only after dark and a hike to a hide along the beach. Hmm, boys after bed time with people paying good money to sneak up on wildlife. We couldn't see the goodness there so to the RV park for some catch with our new rugby ball and dinner.

At the holiday park Zach was finally able to try and make friends with a sheep. Despite a few thousand years of domestication sheep still aren't very friendly.