7^th February – to Dunedin

A journey day. Left Akaroa early and drove uneventfully southwards through the Canterbury Plain. Stopped at Timaru for coffee and decided that it was possibly the most boring town in New Zealand. It was like being in back in Britain in the late 1950's, probably on a Sunday, when it was raining and something good was on the telly.

Then stopped at the Moeraki boulders, extraordinarily large and spheroidal septarian nodules up to a metre in diameter which had weathered from the low cliff and sat undisturbed on the beach. The tide was well in, so the Pacific waves were breaking around them.

Found our hotel, LivingSpace, easily. The rooms are very small but perfectly formed with a large curved sliding glass partition to the shower area.

Dunedin is the most southerly city in the country, largely built by Victorian Scots, and abounding with Scottish street names and Victorian gothic architecture.

Tried to eat out, but probably as it was the Saturday night of a national holiday weekend, all the restaurants seemed to have unexpectedly closed and we were forced into McDonalds for the first time. Interestingly, this was a branch in which the concept of fast food had evolved into fast food after a long wait.

8^th February - Otago Peninsular

Drove in beautiful weather along the Otago peninsular to Penguin Place. This endeavour is devoted to trying to save the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin. A very knowledgeable guide called Tim took us round, explaining the habits and problems of the birds. From various hides connected by semi-tunnels we were able to get close to several chicks.

Drove to the end of the Peninsular where there is an albatross colony, but the birds had flown and we didn't see any.

Back to the art gallery in Dunedin which apart from worthy Victorian portraits of Victorian worthies, and an off -colour Monet, had an interesting exhibition of works by a local artist.