last day in Dunedin

Today we are in Lake Hawea, near the town of Wanaka, and waiting for the cloud to pass for a flight to Milford Sound. This may have to be moved to Wed 27th as the radar looks doubtful for the next two days. So we shall enjoy some walks around the lake and perhaps up into the hills.

Yesterday was our last day in Dunedin - by a long way the most spectacular place we have seen in New Zealand. I think I have already written about the Otago peninsular enough - but for nature lovers and for those who wish to see rare species, I am not sure it can possibly be beaten.

So here are just a few more photographs of Otago peninsular and then some photos of the area beyond Fort Chalmers on the opposite side of the harbour.

We stayed in Dunedin with Steve and Judy, a very special couple with whom we shared a very enjoyable meal out together last night in Dunedin and a nice bottle of red wine. If Steve is reading this, you made the whole trip very enjoyable with this walk together up monument hill, and after dinner that fabulous charge up the steepest road in the world with an incline of one in 2.9, that i was too scared to do in my tiny underpowered hired car!

Steve is quite obviously much fitter and has stronger legs than mine - mountain biking and a much more active lifestyle, but I think he enjoyed the walk up monument hill with the slightly slower Pimms despite this.

Carol at the base of the monument to the war dead on the hill which overlooks both Dunedin harbour and the ocean on the other side of Otago peninsular.

Carol just loved this letter box on the walk down monument hill, and you can see Dunedin city in the background left of the photo. There was a painted cow on the side of the milk churn holding the letter box, and Steve said to us "Just move over to the side so I can get the cow in the picture." Carol replied ......"I am not doing anything if you are going to call me a cow!"

Over the other side of the harbour lies Aramoana and there were a collection of vintage cars hanging out at Careys Restaurant - the owners had been attending a week long rally in Dunedin and we had seen these old cars buzzing about during the weekend and also on the drive out from Dunedin towards Wanaka.

I think I must have always wanted a little fire engine like this as a child.....

Or maybe a smart little cabriolet....

This guy has got his childhood dream.

A seal mother and pup on the beach at Aramoana, near Dunedin