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Published: October 28th 2016
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Well we have spent the last 10 days exploring the beautiful Otago Region. Visiting some top spots and catching up with family has been great.
Leaving Waikouaiti RSA on Wednesday (19/10) we headed out to Huriawa Peninsula. Parking near the edge of the Waikouaiti River we walk around the waterfront to the track that leads out onto the Peninsula and Huriawa Pa. From the track you get superb views up and down the coast. The story/information boards placed around the track add to the interest of this place. High Cliffs, blowholes and little bays, then the lovely view down to Karitane beach make this walk worth the stop. As you drive up and over the hills south from Karitane there is a fabulous lookout on the side of the road that rewards you with another great view and photo opportunity of both Karitane and Waikouaiti Beach.
We spent 3 days parked up at Woodhaugh NZMCA in Dunedin and spent a fair bit of time wandering around the city. Recommend visiting: 1. The Dunedin Railway Station, such a beautiful building both in and out. They also have a little art gallery which is worth a wander around. 2. The Octagon
also has beautiful buildings and churches. 3. Forsyth Barr Stadium, what an awesome stadium. We went to the Otago vs BOP Rugby game on Friday night. I think we were the only BOP supporters there. The Otago crowd were very passionate and vocal😊. The only thing I wouldn’t do again is take Lance to the Public Art Gallery in the Octagon. OMG I almost had to gag him as he really thought the art was crap. Rather embarrassingly I didn’t think much of it either. Thursday we drove out the windy narrow road to Port Chalmers and Aramoana. There are a couple of walks at Port Chalmers, one taking you up to the Scott Memorial and lookout. We may have got slightly lost finding this track and ended up at the cemetery. The views are excellent up and down the harbour, over the port and down to the little settlement of Port Chalmers. Next stop was Aramoana, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to visit here or not. The Aramoana massacre was a very sad day in NZ history. The shooting occurred on 13
th November 1990, when a lone gunman gunned down 13 people in this beautiful seaside settlement. It
is still the deadliest criminal shooting in NZ. This place is beautiful despite what has happened here. Maybe the sun shining on the beautiful white beach helped. We ventured out on the long breakwater in the blustery wind. At the end is the entrance to the Otago harbour, with great views across to Taiaroa Head.
The next few days we have spent with family in Mosgiel. It’s been pretty handy having a local guide to show us a round a few spots. Monday we walked the Flagstaff walk which is a short drive from Dunedin. The mountain track was an early bullock track and stock route over Flagstaff. It is a well maintained tussock, flax and astelia track with great views from the low summit. Views would have been spectacular from here on a clear day but unfortunately the cloud was rolling in. Next stop the Centennial Lookout (Signal Hill). There are 2 large bronze statues representing “History” and “The thread of life”. A large stone from Edinburgh in Scotland is incorporated in the monument, symbolising the ties between Dunedin and its sister city. What awesome panoramic views from this spot. Another must do is the Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
This is a really nice spot for a stroll minus the dude who decided it was a good place to protest against the local councillor’s and politicians. Actually he looked fairly lonely with all his placards and no friends or supporters. The bonus here at the gardens has to be the bird aviary. Crikey do those Mcaws make a racket!
We spent 2 days out on the Otago Peninsula. Whilst the weather was not perfect we still managed to get out and do a few things. The road out on the peninsula is pretty narrow and windy. But the views particularly in the morning when the water is still and mirror like makes for some good photo shots. We stopped off at MacAndrew Bay and headed off to do the Greenacres walk. This heads straight up from MacAndrew Bay onto Highcliff road. Good views as you climb up the hill but it was a bit of huffing and puffing to get there. Not sure how they can call the track back down a track when basically you are walking on the road. A lot of the tracks out this way are closed due to lambing at this time of
the year.
On Thursday (27/10) we managed to get a good deal on Book Me website for the Royal Albatross Centre and the Unique tour out at Taiaroa Head. Normal price $55 per person, Book Me price $50 for 2 persons. It’s an amazing saving and worth using this site if you are looking at doing any tourist attractions in NZ. At this time of the year the new seasons Albatross parents start arriving at Taiaroa Head to re-establish their pair bonds and mating. Our tour included informative information and close up viewing (observation rooms) of these magnificent birds. We also learnt about the history of Taiaroa head (known as Pukekura by the Maori). Taiaroa head has served as a defensive position from the beginning of human occupation around 700 years ago. Here the Armstrong Disappearing Gun still sits and has been kept in pristine condition. No they do no longer fire as it would disrupt the Albatross sanctuary. In the early days this gun would often blow out the Lighthouse windows when fired. You got to feel sorry for the poor Lighthouse keeper and wife who had to take everything off the wall and hide before
they fired😊. Facts of the day: 1. The Albatross wing span is up to 3 metres long. 2. Albatross can fly at speeds of around 120kph. 3. At 7 months old the Albatross chick is 10 to 12kg, an adult is 8 to 9 kg normally.
Friday we head off from the Harwood Domain and make our way to Sandymount Track network. Access to here is a no go via the Highcliff Rd if you are in a large vehicle but we try the alternative which is around Hoopers Inlet. The road is still narrow but if you take the time ok. We opt to park further down the road as we don’t think the Motorhome will squeeze through the trees to the carpark. On arrival we see the track to The Chasm and Lovers Leap closed due to lambing. A little disappointed we climb to the summit instead. Good views but if the flax gets any higher at the summit you won’t get to see anything. As we head back down the track we notice another track to Lovers Leap and no sign to say closed due to Lambing so we decide why not. The track
leads down and around the side of the hill popping out on farmland with the viewing platform just ahead. So feeling rather guilty for been there we managed a quick peek from the platform down to The Chasm and across the high cliffs and what we think was Lovers Leap. Time to bolt before the DOC man catches us. Good to be able to come this far and not miss out though😊.
From Sandymount we visited Tomahawk beach then St Kilda Beach. There is a good walk along the John Wilson Drive. This road runs along Kilda Beach and the Eastern end is closed to traffic after 3pm. The road leads out to Lawyers Head and the Wright Memorial, from this clifftop position there are awesome views down to St Clairs and up to Tomahawk and Smailles Beach. St Kilda beach is very popular place for the local surfers and it doesn’t seem to matter how cold it is.
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