Day 137 Dunedin, New Zealand

Today we arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand at 0700. I had booked a shore excursion to check out Dunedin, the surrounding area and most importantly some of the local wildlife. Her is a description of the ship’s tour: Nature's Wonders: Wildlife Cruise & Penguins DURATION: Approximately 8 1/4 hoursDiscover the unique bird and sea life around the Otago Peninsula from the sea and from specially-designed all terrain Argo vehicles. Walk along the pier to board a 55-foot wooden launch with a walk-around deck. It's a two-hour scenic cruise to Taiaroa Head, with time spent viewing the great albatross--one of the world's largest birds with a wingspan of up to ten feet. Watch for fur seals and other species including the little shag, spotted shag and the pied oystercatcher. Tea, coffee and cookies are served during the cruise. Binoculars and all weather jackets are provided. Disembark at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre for an informative guided tour of the center where you will be introduced to the secrets of the Southern Ocean. Look inside a shark egg, shake hands with an octopus and discover why albatross, penguins and seals make the Otago Peninsula their home. A coach will transfer you up to the top of the Otago Peninsula to Nature's Wonder. Enjoy lunch before taking a spectacular tour on board an 8x8-wheel Argo vehicle which heads out over rolling farmland. On this exciting ride you will approach a fur seal colony and a yellow-eyed penguin nesting area. Also see the remains of old gun fortifications which date back to the 1880s. From Nature's Wonders, drive down the length of the Otago Peninsula along the Highcliff Road for panoramic views across Otago Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. In Dunedin there will be a brief orientation tour of this charming city which is renowned for its fine stone buildings and educational institutions.
The tour was amazing! I absolutely loved seeing the breeding grounds for the Fur Seals, the nesting areas for the Royal Albatross and of course the endangered Yellow eyed Penguin. The scenery was magnificent and the town had some lovely architecture. The ride in the Argo vehicles was like a Disney E Ticket ride and talk about dusty…. I was filthy when we finished. It was worth it however…. Dunedin is a beautiful little place.