Today we did a day trip out to the Otago Peninsula - a volcanic formation that has over millennia eroded to create the inlet to the harbor where Dunedin sits. It is sparsely populated and for the most part it is wide open pastures and sheep paddocks. Along the coast on the ocean side lies a few wilderness preserves home to seals, cormorants, and the rare and ellusive yellow eyed penguin. This is where we were heading today, a eco-tour around the tip of the peninsula to see all those animals.
Left: The drive out to the wilderness tour, right: the start of the tour.
We left Dunedin about 9 am for the drive out to the very tip of the peninsula for a 10 o'clock tour. It was a beautiful drive that I was only able to barely enjoy (being the driver). Like most roads in New Zealand, this was a slow and winding path on narrow roads right on the absolute edge of the lake. A second of inattention and the van would plunge into the harbor!
Left: the windswept coast, and right: the cormorant nesting cliff
We made our way out to Natures Wonders, the sprawling working sheep farm that encompasses most of the tip of the peninsula. The selling point for this tour was the variety of animals, plus a ride on a cool little 8 wheeled vehicle which drove us around to all the viewing spots. Connor really loved the ride in the truck - kept saying "more bumpy" as it was a really rough ride!
It was a sunny day, but very brisk with a stiff wind howling off the sea. Our first stop was the top of a volcanic cinder to get a view of the harbor, ocean, and Dunedin far off in the distance. It was bitterly cold at the top though, and we spent just a few minutes taking photos and looking around before we hurried off the top to avoid death.
Seals, seals, and more seals. We got to within 10' of these guys!
We saw the cormorants (humorously nicknamed "shags") clinging to the sea cliff where they build their nest and seals that were just getting ready for breeding season. We made our way to the protected penguin beach, home to both the blue penguins and the rare yellow eyed penguins. Alas, no luck on sighting either one, as the blue penguins were busy later in the day, and the yellow eyed penguins being naturally shy. But evidence was all around, including penguin tracks all through the concealed viewing area where we peered out at the beach.
Left: off to see the seals, right our party
All told a very enjoyable trip. The kiddos had fun, and so did the adults. After the drive back home, it was time for naps, both for the little ones and for the adults!
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