Dun edin @ admiring albatross

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So, left Moeraki & went to see the 'world famous' Moeraki Boulders. Never heard of them? Neither had we, but reckoned if they charged $2 to get through the fence to see them, they must be good. Well, we were underwhelmed. Round...yes. Interesting patterns..OK, but compared to, say, the Devils Marbles in Oz..they were little pebbles. If there is anything worth seeing in NZ, the kiwis find a way of making you pay for it. Eg, we went to the tip of the Otago peninsula to walk along the headland to the lighthouse to see if we could see Albatross, only to find the whole headland fenced off and asking $45 (£25) each to get in. Thank goodness for 'lonely planet'.....they said that you sometimes see them from the car park for free..and we did! Stayed for over an hour watching these fantastic birds..3mtr wing span. Another 'lifer'. I tell you what though, you'd need a golf umbrella if one of these badboys decided to answer the call over your head! The photos don't do them justice as taken with our cheapie dig camera from a distance. Didn't have enough room for the expensive camera.. Didn't see the blue eyed penguins as they wanted another shed load of dolla for that too. Did see a green eyed kiwi though, although these are quite common, apparently. He was barfing in a layby, the morning after too good a pre Xmas office party. The rest of him was pretty green as well. Reminder me a bit of Round Table Chartered Dinners. Thank goodness were past that life stage. Still, it seemed fun at the time. Except the morning after, of course.

Managed to get Eddie, Margaret, and Shirley through Dunedin without stopping for shopping as I persuaded them that it would be too difficult to park unless Eddie lost some weight. It did look like a nice city, but like most cities, better looking from the road out of it. We camped in a little place called Portobello, a few miles from the Dunedin suberb of Muselburgh!

Now in a beautiful wee town called Arrowtown, a few miles short of Queenstown. Very picture sque and peaceful, but will prob stop for a while in Qtown on way to Te Anau tomorrow. That's the springboard for Doubtful Sound and Fiordland.

Weather was good enough to BBQ tonight. Got a nifty wee gas BBQ that magically slides out the side of Eddies starboard flank. That's one less wee lamb to clutter the stunning kiwi landscapes. ..

Onward and upward......soon be at the top at this rate.....

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Photos

A Moeraki Boulder
The best one. About 20 other smaller bits of rock, some nearly round

Dunedin from Otego
On way to Portobello

Fur seals
Taken from the fence that costs $45 to cross

Royal Albatross
Over Taiaroa Head

really, its not a seagull
Look carefully at the blur in the middle..

Moeraki beach
or Portmahomack?

OK, so its tacky
But its big.

So's Eddie
At Arrowtown...note blue sky!

The Fork and Tap, Arrowtown
No, you can't Fork 'n take it home!

Arrowtown vista
Fit bonnie, eh?

Comments

[Brian &Sandra]

Good to see that you guys are still having a good time. We text you a wee while ago hoping that that you would be online as Shona was here. No change on the Graeme/Shona front!!!! Unfortunately shit-face is still appears to be the flavour of the month. Been a day or so since we read your blog, sounds like all is well. Merry Christmas to you both from us, and a Happy New Year if we are not in contact between now and then. Brian & Sandra xxxx