We wandered around Akaroa for a short time before hopping on a 2 hour boat cruise. We checked out the old French cemetery (Akaroa was initially settled/claimed by a few French settlers) which, it is said, has willows there grown from saplings near Napoleon’s grave? (or some such thing) Whether that’s true or not, the trees were alive with birds and we shot some video just for the audio.
It was just about perfect weather for a day on the water: sunny, light breeze, not too hot. Definitely a bit of autumn in the air. Our cruise was only at about ½ capacity; NZ is now in “slow season” although school kids are on Easter break for about two weeks.
Wasn’t that long in to the cruise that we spotted our first pod of three dolphins: mama, baby and “another adult” (per our skipper Hamish). Akaroa is home to biggest concentration of Hector’s Dolphin, which is the world’s smallest. Their dorsal fin resembles (again, per Hamish) Mickey Mouse ears. Shy at first, they came to play in the bow wake for a while and I got some photos, though not of them mere inches from us at starboard. Doh! Beautiful creatures.
Next up on cruise was rock viewing; some sea caves, (one resembling elephant head) and a cruise out to the harbour entrance and open Pacific Ocean. I enjoyed a few moments alone at the bow (“king of the world!”) and some big swells.
We passed by more wildlife – cormorants (shags) and a few fur seals sunning themselves, and cruised back to Akaroa. Two hours very well spent. We’d picked up a half-price voucher, so good value, too.
Estelle’s been doing a fine job of driving, which gives me time to shoot photos and videos on the fly. To exit Akaroa, we had to go back the way we came in, which was a very steep and winding mountain road – very 1970’s BC if that makes sense to some of you. That is, not very wide, lots of switchbacks, not many barriers at roadside.
Then – flatness as we hit the Canterbury Plains. Farm country and one highway (SH1) cutting south. Main hazard, from looks of signage, is falling asleep at wheel! Filled up gas tank in small town with a giant fish (salmon?) that reminded me of Kenora’s Husky the Muskie.
We were aiming for overnight in Dunedin, but as sun was setting headed into downtown Oamaru, the “Steampunk Capital of NZ” (for real, apparently) and stayed at an old hotel reconverted into backpacker hostel. Rough Guide promised (well, noted) penguins in the car park.
As it was still a holiday (Easter Monday) we grabbed groceries before heading to wharf to see penguins. Should have done reverse as I think we missed the evening “beaching”, but we did see a trio. They were small blue penguins waddling across the grass and we almost literally tripped over them! We then gave them space and followed them a bit. Too dark for pictures, but amazing to be so close to wild creatures who live on the fringe of the city. Hopefully near Dunedin we’ll get a better chance to see them in a better habitat.
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