Dunedin
and the Otago Peninsula
A university city of Scottish heritage, Dunedin is New Zealand's
oldest city. Situated on the south-eastern coast of New Zealand's
South Island, Dunedin has a population of around 120,000 and is
the main centre of Otago, a region recognised for its spectacular
scenery. The sheer physical beauty of Dunedin, dramatic bush-covered
hills and valleys at the head of a long natural harbour, attracted
Maori settlers to the site over four centuries ago. Then, in 1848,
Scottish migrants established a town here, giving it the ancient
name of Edinburgh.
The
Otago Peninsula which lies within the city boundaries has internationally
renowned wildlife reserves, including a rare Albatross breeding
ground and Yellow-Eyed Penguin colonies
Taiaroa
Head is unique for the diversity of wildlife which abounds on
this small headland, and includes the only mainland colony of
albatross in the world. Southern
fur seals can be seen at Pilots
Beach. The rare yellow-eyed penguin
can be observed close by. The area is alive with seabirds, as
the protection given to the albatross colony has allowed many
other species to flourish. This remarkable abundance of wildlife
is drawn to the area by the Southern Ocean's cold currents which
rise above the continental shelf, providing a rich and constant
food source.
The
headland was in use by Maori as a defensive retreat long before
being fortified by European settlers in 1885. Between the establishment
of a whaling station near Taiaroa Head in the 1830's and the end
of the second world war in the 1940's, Taiaroa Head was continuously
inhabited and was the scene of much activity.
Day
8, Saturday
Today
we drove to Dunedin, aiming for the Otago peninsula. This was
the longest drive we had yet encountered-about 4.5 hours. It was
a pretty drive (albeit no road to Glenorchy or Milford road),
making it easier. We took the "northern" route from
Queenstown, up to Cromwell and east to the coast, then south to
Dunedin. Today was the worst weather we encountered and yet, it
still wasn't miserable by any stretch of the imagination. It was
stormy at periods, but, as mentioned, goretex made the difference
between miserable and manageable.
next...
