Dunedin to Oamaru

Pat & John beside Beverly Clock

Spent the morning in Dunedin. Pat took us on a drive up Mt Cargill but, sadly, the cloud didn't lift and we didn't get a view over Dunedin. Then she took us into the University to see the Beverly clock. This clock was made by Arthur Beverly, a Dunedin benefactor, born in Alford, Aberdeenshire and is special in never needing to be wound.

Moeraki Boulders

After lunch we set out for Oamaru. Back on Highway 1 again. Countryside continued quite pastoral, with some hills appearing in the background. Stopped to look at the Moeraki Boulders - quite fascinating. These huge spherical boulders were formed millions of years ago, when layers of calcium formed around a central pebble or shell, rather like pearls but on a much larger scale. The boulders were buried in mudstone till, millions of years later, as the land rose, the sea began to erode the mudstone, exposing the boulders.

Harbourside Park in Oamaru

Arrived in Oamaru ~4pm and checked in to Heritage House, our B&B, an old house with plasterwork ceilings, wooden panelling and a beautiful wooden stairway. Our room was on the first floor and had a glassed-in veranda, overlooking the town, that housed the loo and bath, as well as a desk and easy chair. It was a 'loo with a view'; great fun.

Oamaru Athaneum

Walked down to the harbour and walked along the quayside. Had a coffee in the Portside restaurant, beside the penguin viewpoint, and booked a table for dinner so Aenea could go and see the penguins afterwards. Walked back into to town and looked around some of the old buildings which are built out of Oamaru limestone and were designed to impress. Whole town has the air of past wealth but now needs some money spent to spruce it up again.


After dinner at Portside restaurant (very good but very slow service) John went home to play with his photos whilst Aenea went to see the penguins. This was on a completely different scale to the previous night. The area where most of the penguins come ashore has been cordoned off so the only access is through the visitor centre (for which you have to pay, of course). A large stand has been built overlooking other beach and hinterland and sodium lights illuminate the area so the penguins can be seen clearly. Although the  penguins are sensitive to light and dark and only come onto land as it gets dark, they don't seem to be aware of the sodium lighting and the crowd of people watching them.

Little blue penguins (library photo)

We had a bit of commentary on the life of the little blue penguin and then watched fascinated as they came ashore in 'rafts' and flopped and hopped their way up over the rocks to their burrow and nestboxes, hidden in the bushes on the hillside behind the beach. All told we saw about 50 penguins that evening.