Dunedin
Arrived in Dunedin after a pretty long drive, all a bit grumpy and ready for some tea. The drive through the city did nothing to inspire us - party due to the busyness of traffic. We eventually found the camp site, paid our dues and went to find our pitch only to find that the site was on a hill and our pitch was on a little terrace at the top - as far from the facilities as you can get. Oh well, tent pitched - off to check out the famous Octogon, the plaza at the centre of Dunedin.
Dunedin was settled in 1848 by Scottish immigrants and has become know as the "Edinburgh of the South". It certainly has some lovely buildings (and a HUGE Cadburys factory!! - smells great) but the Octogon pedestrian area was nothing special and all the eating places were pub based and expensive so back in the car in the hunt for a chip shop.
The following morning we wake to the sound of very, very heavy rain. The propsect of travelling to our next destination with wet, cold children is not a happy one so Chris and the children are sent off to the heated swimming pool for a combined swim/wash and I take down the tent and pack the car. By the time we are ready to go, the kids are chirpy as hell and I'm wet through, freezing, have a big gash on my hand from the tent pole and generally in pretty foul mood - the rain continues!!!!!
One of the places we had wanted to see was the Albatross Sanctuary which is based at the far end of the Otago Peninsular so we head off in that direction in the hope of finding breakfast on the way.
We arrive at the peninsular tip and it is so cold that we have to pile on all available clothes in order not to freeze to death (and it's still raining). There is a short walk along the cliff tops where we are able to see some seals and the King Shag colony but in order to wlk around the cliff to see the Albatross colony you have to pay the princly sum of $80 - I think not!!! Instead we spend some time going round the (free) exhibition.
We head off back along the peninsular, stopping to take a photo of Dunedin in the distance (yes, it's still raining!).......
... and arrive at the only castle in New Zealand. 
Dunedin was settled in 1848 by Scottish immigrants and has become know as the "Edinburgh of the South". It certainly has some lovely buildings (and a HUGE Cadburys factory!! - smells great) but the Octogon pedestrian area was nothing special and all the eating places were pub based and expensive so back in the car in the hunt for a chip shop.
The following morning we wake to the sound of very, very heavy rain. The propsect of travelling to our next destination with wet, cold children is not a happy one so Chris and the children are sent off to the heated swimming pool for a combined swim/wash and I take down the tent and pack the car. By the time we are ready to go, the kids are chirpy as hell and I'm wet through, freezing, have a big gash on my hand from the tent pole and generally in pretty foul mood - the rain continues!!!!!
One of the places we had wanted to see was the Albatross Sanctuary which is based at the far end of the Otago Peninsular so we head off in that direction in the hope of finding breakfast on the way.
We arrive at the peninsular tip and it is so cold that we have to pile on all available clothes in order not to freeze to death (and it's still raining). There is a short walk along the cliff tops where we are able to see some seals and the King Shag colony but in order to wlk around the cliff to see the Albatross colony you have to pay the princly sum of $80 - I think not!!! Instead we spend some time going round the (free) exhibition.
We head off back along the peninsular, stopping to take a photo of Dunedin in the distance (yes, it's still raining!).......
... and arrive at the only castle in New Zealand. 
Larnach castle was built 1871 by William Larnach, merchant baron and politician, for his beloved first wife Eliza. 200 workmen spent three years building the castle shell and master European craftsmen spent a furthur 12 years embellishing the interior. It is privately owned and has been restored to its former glory by the current owners. It is a beautiful building but is more like a manor house than a castle.
Back into the car for the next leg of the journey and, hooray, it has finally stopped raining.
posted by The Ford Family | 5:57 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home