Bluff to Dunedin

January 22, 2009

Ok the first thing is that I didn’t get sick on the ferry on the way back. It was a calm day, I had eaten the ginger extract tablets that they sold on the dock and I also took advantage of the free earplug they give you if asked. Apparently one earplug lessens motion sickness. I didn’t care as long as it would help prevent me from reliving the fish and chips from last night.

The clouds were racing high overhead (actually they are always racing here) but the seas were pretty calm for this section of the world. We would miss Stewart Island but I wouldn’t miss the ride.

Next, we headed up the east coast of the south island heading through green fields full of sheep. We out ran the rain in Bluff and the weather got noticeably warmer as we drove. Slammed on the brakes at one point and did a U-turn as we passed a sign proclaiming that Niagara Falls was to the right. They were right. Here is a picture.

Up the coast farther through twisting roads and, since we followed the scenic route signs, about 30 km of one and half lanes of loose gravel roadway. I use the term lanes loosely as it means that two cars should be able to pass. Should be anyway.

Saw some great coastal scenery and buzzed through a lot of small (really small) towns that were anything but tourist traps. Finally rolled into Dunedin (Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh) in the late afternoon. The City was once the financial capital of NZ, and the centre of a gold rush area, so there are some amazing colonial stone structures about all looking like the very essence of the British Empire.

Found, to my horror, that much of the City is built on steep streets and that my skills with the stick, brake and clutch were to be tested once again. (I thought this was supposed to be relaxing.) Having arrived here by bus the last time I had forgotten that.

We did walk down to the City centre to buy groceries and then back up a really large hill. Nice hostel through, as long as you don’t have to leave. Of course we could have taken the car but then we wouldn’t be getting “in shape”.