Heading out of Milford Sound, we drove away from the mountains and toward a windblown beach and Celtic green bluffed coast. The “Southern Scenic Route”, at times the main highway wrapping the southern tip of the island, was a tight two laner and only sometimes paved. The Catlin Coast attracts New Zealand’s rare penguin and sea lion colonies as the surrounding seas merge into the sub Antarctic waters eventually (being the southernmost part of New Zealand). Christy was curious to see these wadlers for herself after hearing about Dion’s sightings in Antarctica last year and was quickly enamored with the knee high Yellow Eyed Penguins swimming ashore after feeding in the frigid waters. Unfortunately our photos do not do justice (and not posted) as our non-intrusive viewing perch for these particularly shy penguins was quite high up from the beach.
A two hour drive from where we stayed on the Catlin Coast (Owaka) is the city of Dunedin where we spent two leisure nights, January 25th and 26th. Dunedin- Gaelic for “Edinburgh”-the capital of Scotl and carries an old European feel with its Gothic restored Cathedrals blanketing corners. Our hotel cleverly named Hogwartz, from Harry Potter (JK Rowling wrote the novels in Scotland), was actually the Bishop’s home for 137 years and had many grand views of the majestic cathedral, St. Joseph’s, across the street. As we sought out wine in Marlborough, rice in China and curry in Thailand, we not surprisingly drank a lot of beer in Dunedin, in Scottish tradition. The Octagon: center circle of town lined with restaurants, bars and live outdoor music was a great place to spend a sunny Saturday, sharing pints with the locals and lads celebrating “Aussie Day”. Down the street from Hogwartz is Speight’s Brewing House which gives a fun and informative tour of the 130 year old brand- and makes an Old Dark and Apricot Harvest brews we wish were imported home…they’re not.
A two hour drive from where we stayed on the Catlin Coast (Owaka) is the city of Dunedin where we spent two leisure nights, January 25th and 26th. Dunedin- Gaelic for “Edinburgh”-the capital of Scotl and carries an old European feel with its Gothic restored Cathedrals blanketing corners. Our hotel cleverly named Hogwartz, from Harry Potter (JK Rowling wrote the novels in Scotland), was actually the Bishop’s home for 137 years and had many grand views of the majestic cathedral, St. Joseph’s, across the street. As we sought out wine in Marlborough, rice in China and curry in Thailand, we not surprisingly drank a lot of beer in Dunedin, in Scottish tradition. The Octagon: center circle of town lined with restaurants, bars and live outdoor music was a great place to spend a sunny Saturday, sharing pints with the locals and lads celebrating “Aussie Day”. Down the street from Hogwartz is Speight’s Brewing House which gives a fun and informative tour of the 130 year old brand- and makes an Old Dark and Apricot Harvest brews we wish were imported home…they’re not.
Driving the Southern Coastal Route around the base of the South Island. The wind was not blowing fierce this day but the trees permanently lean from a constant sea breeze.
This fur seal was a tad perturbed Dion stepped on his turf.
This photo gives a feel for the grassy, Southern coast- very different than the mountainous West Coast we drove a few days earlier.
Overlooking Nugget Point (named after these rock formations that resemble gold nuggets). We saw penguins at the neighboring bay after this walk- as the penguins emerge from the sea roughly 2-3 hours before dusk each night (ie. 7-8pm this season).
Sunset from our Backpackers B&B on the Scenic Reserve
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Dunedin and view from our loft at Hogwartz
Celebrating Aussie Day (the hat is rewarded to those tables that drink 5+ pints in the course of the day)
Tasting at Speight's Brewery... the following day
1 comment:
Love that your hostel was called Hogwartz!!! Dolphin swim from the latest post sounds amazing.
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