Dunedin

Happy 4th of July!!!  After me and Lindsey belted the American national anthem in the campervan to show our national pride, we started out spending some time in Dunedin.  We went to the Otago Settlers museum where we learned a little of the city's history.

Otago Settlers Museum

Otago Peninsula

We then drove out to the Otago Peninsula.  The views here are spectacular!! We saw cool birds and seals and visited the Royal Albatross Center.  This peninsula is the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere.  Afterwards we headed toward Christchurch.  Along the way we stopped at beaches, including the Moerkai boulders.  These are unusually large and spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach.  They are shaped like this due to erosion.  Maori legend tells that the boulders are remains of calabashes, kumaras and eel baskets that washed ashore after the legendary canoe, the Araiteuru was wrecked at nearby Shag Point (Matakaea).  As we walked along another beach, we found a seal and walked right up to it!

Moerkai Boulders

Seal on beach

Finally we reached Christchurch and I spent my last night in the campervan as I prepared for Orientation the next day!