The weather forecast for today wasn’t particularly good and it was right! It had been raining most of the night and it was still going strong when we went for a shower. Grey and miserable, it was a typical September, autumn morning back home. There was no rush to get up as the plan to go to see the albatross centre and penguins was out the window in this weather. After a lazy breakfast and showering, we started to finalise the plans for the remainder of the North Island itinerary. Phoning the campsites and confirming our bookings. We also confirmed the booking that we made in the first motel that we stayed in Christchurch. The guy who runs the motel, which was located on the North edge of the area that is currently cordoned off, says that they had only minimal damage and he was fully open and our booking was still ok.
By the time we finished the admin tasks and had morning tea, it was closer to mid-day before we set off for the town centre and the Otago Museum. This is a very modern building and houses a number of different displays and themes. We spent most of the time in one of the hi-tech displays associated with the face. When you entered the display, you can have your photo taken, then use the image in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways throughout the display. One of the themes is to take your image and age you by 10 and 15 years – Not a pretty sight. As you leave the room, there is a huge image of a face, which changes every few seconds and that face is made up of lots of different facial images of other people. So, if anyone goes to The Otago Museum in the future our images will be part of the big face on the way out. Look out for us.
By mid afternoon, the rain had stopped so we returned to the station, where the van was parked, enjoyed tea and a toasted sandwich in the railway buffet, then headed off to the Otago peninsula. The sun was trying hard to break through, but never actually made it, but it was bright enough to go to the Albatross centre. Just as we parked up and got out of the van, a huge Royal Albatross sailed over our heads and circled round gaining height, without so much as a flap of the wings. As time was getting on, we decided to head off for the Yellow eyed penguin colony. Fortunately, we were able to get straight onto a tour, which involved a short presentation on the work they carried out with the Yellow Eyed penguins and various other varieties that get sent to their ‘hospital’.
Then it was off with Gloria, our guide, who was a mature lady, well past her sell by date, but not quite up to the use before date. Actually, she was an excellent guide and clearly very knowledgeable about the penguins. Apparently, the Yellow Eyed variety is one of the most rare penguins in the world, a bit like the Little Blue ones we saw at Akoroa, earlier in the trip. Also, they do not generally hang around in gangs, so you have to be a bit eagle eyed to spot them in the field. We were just walking along the coastal footpath, when there just to one side, was a penguin. It seemed strange to see it in the grass, when you normally associate penguins waddling up the beach or standing around in the snow. As we walked along the paths, we were shown a nesting box, which contained two baby penguins. This variety apparently always produces two chicks. Further round, we saw more individual birds, and some of them were so static, we questioned whether they were deceased penguins, but were assured otherwise. The one and a half hours just whistled by and we were soon back in the coach returning to base.
Back in the van, we were soon on our way back to the campsite, having enjoyed a great hour and a half, being educated about Yellow Eyed penguins. The drive back along the Otago peninsular was most enjoyable as the road runs along the coast the whole way, just a few feet above the tide line. There are some small communities along the way, which house mostly holiday homes, the odd cafe and art galleries.
Once back home, it was time for a drink and some nibbles, followed by barbequed lamb chops for dinner. This site has slipped further in my estimations as it’s the only one where we have had to pay to use the barbeque. Just as we were washing up – (yes, we) a chap came in and announced the earthquake that had just hit Japan. We have since been looking at the dramatic pictures of the tsunami that had followed as a result of the quake. The US Tsunami Centre has issued a warning to lots of Pacific countries including NZ. The NZ civil defence has issued a statement to stay away from beaches. Fortunately, this site sits way above Dunedin, so it would have to be a very big wave to reach us. However, tomorrow we are off up the coast to Oamaru, passing the boulders at Moeraki.
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