Blogs from Otago Peninsula , Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

William and Catherine at St. Paul's cathedral got a good sighting people here very friendly no loud screaming just polite quiet cheers heading off to otago peninsula for trip to hopefully see albatross and penquins will be a hardy walk out to see them but worth it .rain has stopped. Ate in nice French restaurant for dinner ron did a great driving here took about 4 hours later we took a trip out to see penguins and albatross # AMAZING . Once in a lifetime viewing of royal albatross and yellow eyed penguin. This was on my list to do, we'll worth the cold and wind ?☔️??... read more

Saw my first wild penguins today! They are a very endangered species called yellow-eyed. Only 700 occupy an area of about 700km along the southern coast of the South Island with another 2000 on two other small, uninhabited islands. The preserve here on Otago Peninsula is trying to conserve while still maintaining limited viewing. Anyway, they were still sitting on eggs which should start hatching in a few weeks. So not a lot of activity except for one juvenile who had just come back from his first season of winter feeding and was standing around waiting to moult his first set of seawater feathers and trying to score some territory for future mating. If no one chases him away - it's his. Both towns are very influenced by their Scots first settlers. Dunedin (pronounced dun eden) ... read more