We only had a drive of less than 2 hours to get to Dunedin. So we made sure to see the Moeraki Boulders, Shag Point and Orokonui Ecosanctuary. The boulders have six foot diameters and are scattered over the beach. They were created when shells and calcium rich materials sank in the mud 65 million years ago. The calcite sank in the mud of the sea floor and over the millennia they compacted and sank further and the mud filled in behind. As the current mudstone gets eroded by the waves these boulders pop out and begin to be attacked by the wind, waves and salt. Some of the boulders have collapsed and look like giant orange peels laying on the beach. The drive along the ocean was exceptional and we stopped off at Shag Point for a picnic lunch. Then it was off to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary where we saw the endangered Kaka Parrot. The 760 acres are contained behind a serious predator fence. The fence starts underground and then rises up 2 meters. It is capped with a slippery overhang that the rats and stoats can not climb. Finally a strand of electrified wire runs along the top. A great time was had snooping around for birds. We took Blueskin Road off towards Otago harbor that leads to Dunedin. Then we drove all along the water and into town. Dunedin lacked the charm of Oamaru, at least the part we drove through. The AirBnB was sub-par but we toughed it out.
The moon is up early
Off in the distance. what is it?
A lone turret with the NZ flag flying
Rolling hills
Wide beaches
Kelp debris
The famous Moeraki Boulders
The far boulder has recently emerged from the mudstone bank while the nearer one has sunk into the sand
For scale, they are bigger then our two of us combined!
A rare moment when the boulders were not crowded with people
One that has broken open
Despite the signs prohibiting the climbing on the boulders, many people did just that
A long and wide beach
Mussels and limpets were growing in the cracks
The travelers in shadow form
The tree was keeping this boulder in the bank
More kelp
They are certainly unique and the octagonal fault lines are mysterious
Oystercatcher and seagul
We saw clams but no oysters
An Oyster Catcher catcher, if only he could get off leash
Horses?
Looking back at the beach with the boulders
The next big bay ended at Shag Point
Shag Point ahead, time for lunch
From our picnic area
The seals love it here
What a beautiful day!
How many seals can you see? There are 7 but they blend in so well
Snowballs and surf
The water along Moeraki Beach
Just a huge stone monolith on a hill
A surrey, I don't see any fringe?
We have arrived at Blueskin Bay
Black Swans
Blueskin Bay
Getting through the gates in the fence at the Eco-sanctuary
A serious fence. One meter below ground, two meters high, capped with an overhang that predators can't climb and an electric fence on the very top
Spooky!
Odd behavior of this blackbird, wings splayed out and mouth open
A bellbird
Broken rock sculpture
Tui in all its colorful greatness
Two kinds of ferns
Territorial dispute between the kaka and the blackbird
From green to red this parrot has a fine set of feathers
With a sharp beak
A robin came to say hi to Leslie.
The red plumage is peeking through
A tiny green spider and her web
Soft fern
Looking back at Blueskin Bay
We took the Blueskin road to Port Chalmers and Otago Harbor that leads to Dunedin
It was a beautiful blue
The blue water of Otego bay
A bit of a hairy drive down the mountain but delightful when we got to the bottom
Warning indeed, steep road ahead
Lots of recreational opportunities along the water
Don't pass the roped off area
A bike trail and the railway
A railroad vehicle of some sort
Dunedin in the distance
A big stadium
Logs, lots of logs
The top of a building from pour balcony
Sun setting
Clouds rolling in
It has been 245 days since we began out Migration
