Road Trip to Dunedin

Friday morning (July 29) Max, Ryan, Jessica, and I hopped into Max's car and headed to Dunedin.  It was a nice and scenic ride there - the sun was shining, we were singing songs to my ipod speakers, and we stopped at the beach.  It took approximately 5 hours.  When we arrived we met Ryan's friend Garrett and Jessica's friend Emily who are studying abroad at the University of Otago.  We explored a little of the city and went to an Irish pub called the Bog that night.  The live band was amazing!!  I discovered I really like New Zealand reggae. 

Speights Brewery

The next day we visited the Speights Brewery.  We learned everything there is to know about the history and how they make the beer.  Afterward we drove out on the peninsula which I already went to with my family a while back.  It was amazing again!  We watched the sunset there.

Otago Peninsula

On Sunday we went to Cadbury World!!  I love Cadbury chocolate and the chocolate factory was amazing!  As soon as I walked in there was a mountain of Crunchies.  I thought I was actually in heaven.  We learned about the history and making of the chocolate and then climbed the purple towere where we saw a chocolate waterfall.  It was so magical.  After our awesome chocolate experience, we went to Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world).  We booked it up the hill in Max's car.  I can't believe we made it up!  We took some cool pictures and then I ran down.  Then we got some ice cream at Rob Roy's and drove home to Christchurch.  This weekend was so much fun :)

Cadbury World Mountain of Crunchies

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!