Otago penninsula

Today ( Saturday) was our first full day in Dunedin and we spent it on the Otago peninsula. The Peninsula runs 30 kilometers from the town of Dunedin to the ocean. It's a beautiful quiet area with no commercial enterprises to disturb the laid back atmosphere. Our first stop of the day was the only castle in New Zealand.

On top of the hills of the peninsula is Larnach castle built in the late 1800's by William Larnach, a prominent business man and politician. We toured the castle and the gardens and enjoyed the setting and views they afforded. As you know, last year Flat Ella went along to Scotland. This year we have three stowaways on board. Flat Ella is back again but invited her brother, flat James. and sister, flat Claranna along. So we have three flat kids to keep us company. So far they are having a great time.

The morning turned out to be gorgeous with a clear sky and calm wind. We spent about two hours walking the castle and grounds, and imagining what it would have been like at the turn of the century to live here. William called the castle his "camp" and so today the road leading up to it is named camp road. We then headed for the end of the peninsula and a nature preserve we wanted to visit.

The nature preserve is a working sheep farm that has set aside beach front with no human access and has been licensed by the government to take visitors into the preserve. We went by ATV, as seen here, and traveled non- maintained paths up and down the hills to the water. Six passengers and a driver/guide fit into this little ATV.

There is a colony of seals living on the preserve and currently there are many seal pups like this one. We were able to observe pup behavior in the wild as they nursed with mom and played in the pools of ocean water. The males will soon join the colony for the breeding season but will leave again when their job is done.

This beach is called penguin beach because it's a area of the preserve that is inhabited by yellow eyed penguins. We did see some from a long way away but since penguins are shy we couldn't get up close. The penguins use this beach to come and go to the water to feed. They live and raise their young on the sand hill on the left.



We finished the day by stopping at a garden on the way back to Dunedin. A really great day  in all respects.
We're heading back to Spreichts brewery tonight. It's the national ale and is brewed here in Dunedin. The restaurant located at the brewery serves fresh ale and great food...... so ..... back we go. Tomorrow we will walk the town of Dunedin. More tomorrow night.