Blogs from Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin September 1st 2009

Monday, August 31st We had a great nights sleep with no sign of angry villagers, flaming torches or pitchforks. After breakfast we set off for Dunedin city centre. Just outside of Long Beach we saw a dead female possum lying in the road. It was sad, not just because they're so cute, but also because we could see her baby's legs sticking out of her pouch. Yeah, we know there are more than 70 million of them in NZ and they're a huge pest, but they're still cute. Once in the city we found an internet shop to backup our pictures to DVD, then went in search of the Cadbury factory. There are guided tours through the factory and this place is probably as close as Talita could come to heaven on earth. We booked ourselves ... read more
More presents for our mommies
Old Cadbury's Milk Truck
Another old Cadbury's truck

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin August 11th 2009

I have fallen in love with the trails here. The first time I ran through this forest I considered taking up illegal immigrant status and staying here forever. I took my sister on a walk through some of these trails when she came. You could get lost in this place because there are so many different trails and all of them are so beautiful. These trails are only about a five to ten minute walk away from my flat. The pictures speak for themselves.... read more
new zealand 178
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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin August 11th 2009

There is much wildlife surrounding Dunedin. It is home to the albatross which have an impressing three meter wing span, seals, many different kinds of birds, and yellow-eyed penguins. I went on a wildlife cruise/tour where I got to see all the wildlife. The best part was watching the yellow-eyed penguins which are an endagered species and are the second larges penguins in the world. Every night the penguins come onto the beach after a day of fishing in the ocean to go to their homes. When I saw the penguins, I was in a hide out on a penguin reserve watching the penguins come in from the ocean and waddle up to their homes. They looked like they were flying underwater when they were swimming...very graceful. Then they start walking on land and it is ... read more
wild life tour
wild life tour
wild life tour

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin July 15th 2009

Lol, that's got to be the most ridiculous of the titles of my blogs so far... It is in fact all of my news however! So I'm pretty settled now, my flatmates have been great fun and we're all pretty used to each other's company now which is nice. I'm also getting used to the cold now a bit, although that took a while! One of my friends left a lot of his shopping - milk, yoghurt, eggs etc. out of the fridge overnight by accident and in the next morning it was still perfectly chilled, and infact in need of thawing. It's pretty chilly! Anyway on to cats and earthquakes... I returned back from my first full day of lectures on Monday to hear a cry of, 'Shut the door!!' Before I could close it, ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin July 11th 2009

Just to warn you, I’ve a lot I want to write about at the moment, so if you’re up for the challenge you might want to grab a cup of tea or something first! It is freeeeeeeeezing!!! I’m currently eating yesterday’s warm chocolate croissant which is now thoroughly frozen having just sat in my bedroom over night. New Zealand doesn’t do central heating in its houses, so when it’s as harsh a winter as this, everyone just wears about three jumpers, some thermals and a T-Shirt, and still walks around shivering. Still it’s great to be here, and I’ve had a pretty good couple of days - after a terrible flight. So let’s start on a low… Many, many things went wrong with the flight over to Dunedin. All was fine until reaching Hong Kong however, ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin June 1st 2009

Despite Tim having a stinking cold, we drove down to Dunedin for the long weekend (Queen's Birthday) and breaking with tradition, we checked into a luxury apartment, complete with double hydrotherapy spa bath. We had been planning this jaunt for a long while, as we only have showers in our own apartment and going more than a year without a bath was proving to be irksome. The weather forecast for the weekend was for a "big chill", and indeed we have been having some unseasonably cold weather over the last month. On the way down we stopped for lunch on a beach, just south of Oamaru and revisited Shag Point where there's a resident yellow-eyed pengiuns, NZ fur seals and, as indicated by the name, plenty of spotted and black shags. On the Sunday, we drove ... read more
Beach south of Oamaru
Yellow-Eyed Penguin habitat
Seal rocks

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin April 1st 2009

Sorry but I couldn't resist the title. Read on and you will soon realise that I haven't actually been on some wild night out but have instead been viewing some of New Zealand's spectacular wild life. (But then I am sure some might say the same thing if I had been on a wild night out anyway. I think I'll stop there or I'll get myself into some slanderous trouble. Moving on. ) Our main reason for visiting Dunedin was to see the rare and endangered yellow eyed penguins which we were led to believe could only be seen on an organised tour; no doubt the penguins pop up along the coast here and there but Elm wildlife tours guaranteed us a sighting and they weren't wrong. We got picked up from our hostel at 3pm ... read more
Otago harbour
Hooker's sea lion
Yellow eyed penguins

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin March 10th 2009

March 10, 2009 Here is a long delayed report of the last few days. March 8 dawned over and dismal as we sailed into Milford Sound in Fiordlands National Park on the southwest coast of New Zealand. Our crossing of the Tasman Sea was rough but I found out that I am a pretty good sailor. The bonus of a rainy day in Milford Sound is the hundreds of cascading waterfalls. There is little topsoil and the runoff from rain in quick and brief. We benefited from the rain but also suffered from the low clouds and mist and did not sea the glacier. Given my choice I think I prefer the waterfalls. I would attach some pictures (I’m sure they are magnificent) but my digital camera died. No downloads and for the last two days ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin March 6th 2009

The "little Edinburgh" of Otago. Quick tour round - interesting architecture - especially the well known railway station; Cathedral in light Oamuru stone' and yet another Museum (The Otago Settlers museum - good collection of Transport items as well as the settlers info). Campsite shared with car enthusiasts attending a car show next door - mainly american cars Chevvys etc. Otago Peninsular - Went out late evening to remote beach to watch (from hide) yellow-eyed penguins coming ashore - saw one Fiordland crested penguin and one yellowed eyed one + a sea-lion! The beach was amazing - soft blown sand-dunes stretching way inland. (pics to follow) Castle Lanarch gardens - restored from overgrown state by current owner - 40 years work - now superb and in a fantastic setting. At Taiaroa Head at the end of ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin March 5th 2009

Kids out of school for a half day, cruising Otago Bay to see 1 Blue Penguin, a few Giant Albatross, a few fur seals and 2 sea lions. ANOTHER EXHAUSTING LOVELY DAY Thank you Kerry, Thank you all News from Granny please A toute la famille Beauchamp nos plus profondes sympathies a la perte de Ronald, un vrai Monsieur, bon courage a tous, nos pensees et nos prieres sont avec vous.... read more
Otao Bay from winding road at the top of a cliff- Kerry's favorite type of road
same
Farmer and dogs herding sheep




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