Arriving In New Zealand And Visting Banks Peninsula
On January 4, 2009, we flew from Sydney, Australia to Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand via Air New Zealand. After landing around 2:55pm, clearing Immigration and getting our rental car, we drove out to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. We joined up with an early evening tour conducted by Shireen Helps on farmland they own along Flea Bay. They have helped to nurture the largest Blue Penguin colony on the South Island of New Zealand.
We were also able to observe a juvenile and an adult Yellow-Eyed Penguin during our visit.
Here is a photograph of one of the Blue Penguins we observed during our visit. After our tour, we returned back to Christchurch, where we spent the night.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
On January 5th we left Christchurch and headed toward Aoraki /Mount Cook National Park. On the way we drove past beautiful Lake Tekapo, visited the Church of the Good Shepherd, and then continued our drive along Lake Pukaki. Lupines in bloom were in numerous places along the road and in meadows.
We stayed the night in The Hermitage Chalets in Mount Cook Village.
Here is a photograph of Mount Cook taken along Lake Pukaki. Mount Cook is 12,283 feet high.
Mount Cook
Here is a close up photograph of Mt Cook taken from Hooker Valley near Mount Cook Village.
Beautiful Sunset In Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Here is a photograph of a beautiful sunset we had that evening in Aoraki /Mount Cook National Park.
Oamaru And Moeraki Boulders
On January 6th we left the Mount Cook area and headed toward the east coast and the town of Oamaru. It was again a beautiful drive through lupines around Twizel and Omarama.
We visited the Maori rock art around Takiroa and then on to Moeraki Beach. We also observed a few Blue Penguins in Oamaru and Yellow-Eyed Penguins on Bushy Beach.
Here is a photograph of the Moeraki Boulders.
Moeraki Boulders
Here is a close up photograph of one of the Moeraki Boulders.
Dunedin And The Otago Peninsula
On January 7th we headed toward Dunedin.
In Dunedin, we visited the Octagon Town Square, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, City Hall, 1st Church of Otago and Dunedin Railway Station.
We also stopped and visited Larnach Castle on our way out to the Otago Peninsula.
We would spend the next two nights on the Otago Peninsula staying in the Portobello area.
We spent the late afternoon/early evening of January 7th on a private tour with Sam’s Off Road Tours. Our plan was to observe the Yellow-Eyed Penguin in their wild habitat. We were not disappointed. Here is a photograph of an Adult Yellow-Eyed Penguin, soon after coming ashore to meet up with their chick.
Royal Northern Albatross
On January 8th we visited the Royal Northern Albatross Colony on Taiaroa Head in the morning and then took a Monarch Cruises Boat Tour around Taiaroa Head at noon.
We returned late afternoon to Taiaroa Head to observe numerous Royal Northern Albatross in flight. Royal Northern Albatross can weigh over eighteen pounds and have a wing span of up to ten feet.
Here is a photograph of one of the Royal Northern Albatross we observed in flight.
Roaring Bay And Yellow-Eyed Penguins
On January 9th we headed south to the Catlins area. We visited Slope Point, which is the southernmost point on the South Island of New Zealand.
We visited Nugget Point Lighthouse and then on to Roaring Bay for an evening of Yellow-Eyed Penguin viewing. The wind was gusting 30-40 mph and it was also lightly raining. We were able to hang out in a hide and mostly stay drive, except having to dry the front element of the lens every 15 minutes. The wind chill had us in our heavier fleece and Goretex clothing.
We stayed the night in Nugget Point.
We observed over twenty Yellow Eyed Penguins come ashore during the evening. Here is a photograph of a group of seven Yellow-Eyed Penguins hanging out on the beach.
Tautuku Bay
Here is a photograph of Tautuku Bay taken from the Florence Hill Lookout – just one of many beautiful seashore photographs on the South Island
Kea - The Mountain Parrot
On January 10th we began our journey west. We drove out to Milford Sound and toured that area returning to stay the night in Te Anua.
Here is a photograph of one of the Kea’s, also known as the Mountain Parrot, that we observed near Milford Sound.
The West Coast - A Beautiful Sunset
On January 11th we headed from Te Anau and stayed the night in Haast on the West Coast. We spent several hours on Monro Beach, in the evening, hoping to see a Fjordland Crested Penguin. We did not have any sightings. We wore full netting to avoid the infamous sand flies, but they were still able to bite through the netting on our hands.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Ship Creek beach and photographed a beautiful sunset.
