two days in port!

Day in port – Port Chalmers/Dunedin

First day at port – and took a wildlife cruise with dad. Saw the following: shags/cormorants, terns, gulls, black swans, the Australasian gannet, and ducks. What were most impressive were the northern royal albatross (wing span 3 metres) – saw two adults and half a dozen chicks plus feeding; new Zealand seals – about twenty including one large male and loads of pups and a solo tiny blue penguin, just floating along….

It was pretty cold and windy at sea, but seeing these creatures in the wild was just amazing.

After our cruise we went into Dunedin and wandered around. Not much to the town really and not interesting shopping. We went to the art gallery which was impressive for such a small town with loads of british painters represented – only four rooms which was great considering we didn’t have much time there.

Back at the dining room with our table of nine – dinning is getting harder and harder each day. Servings are massive and food plentiful everywhere. There is not enough time between feedings and I am going to have to opt out! Everyone at the table appeared to have a good day all doing various things at port. And then they rush off to the evenings show while my father and I sit and chat before heading to the room – pretty exhausted to have an early night.


Day in port – Lyttleton/Christchurch

Another day, another port. Went on another wildlife cruise and it was even colder today when going out to the pacific. Saw the usual oceanic birds but went out in search of the hector dolphins. Couldn’t find them until we were well out and then they came out to play! They are the smallest dolphins in the world measuring just over a metre and the babies are normally the size of a rugby ball. We first saw three females with three pups and then there were about 12 which stayed with our boat for about 20 mins. It was pretty amazing to see them off and about in the wild. There are only about 7,000 in the world so it was a lovely morning.

Off into town - Christchurch was lovely. We went to the arts centre with a market and food stalls. Very local feel about everything. The art centre is in and around the old building of the Canterbury University. All local artists and food from all over the world. Right across the street is the botantic gardens which were truly lovely. The autumn colors of the trees and some flowers (dahlias) in bloom – made the walk around the park special and the perfect backdrop for so many photos.

After boarding the ship – I was so chilled to the bone that I went directly to the sauna in order to warm up (tough life – I know). They have these wooden beds in the sauna that are covered in tiles which are heated in the centre – there are only five of them and are extremely popular after the wet sauna for relaxing and mainly sleeping. I don’t think anyone who reclines on them stays awake for long – I passed out pretty quickly until the announcement came on asking for a couple of passengers to check in to make sure we didn’t leave anyone behind!
Had to forego dinner tonight – just couldn’t face another couple of courses – my body needs a break! But my father, being the champ he is, went solo. He will not be beat!