Thursday 3rd January Otago Peninsular

We awoke to sunshine and blue skies but still rather cool. Our plan today was to explore the Otago peninsular which points out ENE from Dunedin creating the most wonderful natural harbour. A spectacular drive on both the low road and the high road and at times the high road was quite tricky.

We visited the Royal Albatross centre at the tip of the peninsular but apparently the birds were out at sea because it was so calm. We thought we saw one soaring very high above but can't be sure. The education centre was interesting not only about the birds but also about a "disappearing" gun which apparently retracted into its housing and was installed here in the late 1800s to defend against what seemed to be an invasion threat from the Russians. The gun was build by Lord Armstrong in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne!

We had planned to unleash the built in BBQ for a lunch in the countryside but suitable stopping places proved very elusive and the road was very narrow, steep and windy. The one place which may have been suitable was very windy and populated by such voracious seagulls that I thought there was little chance of the food making the journey from BBQ to mouth. So there was nothing for it but to head off to the Bay Cafe where the lovely lady wife had spotted the availability of blue cod and chips - and very good it was too!

Apart from the albatrosses, cormorants, black oystercatchers and several other seabirds we also saw a number of spoonbills feeding in the shallows very close to the road.

On our way back we visited the woodland gardens at Glenfalloch which had an impressive position overlooking the harbour. After replenishing our supplies at the excellent Countdown supermarket we drove to the north of the city to see what is reputedly the steepest residential street in the world, Baldwin Street. We took one look at it and decided there was no way we would attempt to drive the campervan up Baldwin Street and had, therefore, sadly to miss out on the certificates which were being sold from one of the houses at the bottom of the street for $2 a go!. Our evening BBQ plans were again thwarted as it suddenly started to rain very heavily as we returned to our camp site. However, we were consoled by some excellent NZ wine.