After a great Saturday evening on the TSS Earnslaw with dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead, followed by a sheep rounding and shearing demonstration, Sunday saw us heading back to the east coast in our quest to see the little blue penguins come ashore. We headed out of Queenstown via Frankton, through the Kawarau Gorge with views of Roaring Meg at the hydro power station.
We then proceeded through Cromwell and Clyde then followed the road between the Dunstan Mountains and the Raggedy to Lauder, Idaburn and Ranfurly (where we will return on Monday to cycle on the Otago rail trail). We then dropped into Palmerston and picked up the coast road heading north to visit the Moeraki Boulders (below) and head to our campsite at the mouth of the Waitaki River.
This campsite was a stark contrast to the regimented (and crowded) one in Queenstown – lot of space, very relaxed, free laundry and cheap internet access!
We took a walk to the beach and to the mouth of the river – it was blowing a gale, but as a bonus reward we came across a seal on the beach who showed interest in us being there, so it was a quick photo and move along rather than disturb him!
In the evening we returned to Oamaru and could see (with binoculars) the penguins amassing off the shore. It was not long before they started coming in and as the light faded so they came ashor and made their way up the rocks where we were stood. An incredible experience to have these tiny penguins come so close.
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